KS3 Physics Training Day 1 (Forces and Motion/Space and Gravity) Wed 21st April 2010

"A great day of interactive and enthusing activities for physics at KS3. It will enable me to teach physics with confidence in the classroom and has given me ideas with various up to date equipment."

Bordesley Green Girls EDEXCEL P3 Revision Class (Pulse Oximetry & ECG)

Summary of Lesson Evaluation Forms

Lesson: Pulse Oximetry and ECG
Exam Board/Unit: EDEXCEL P3 Medical Physics
Group: High Ability Year 11 Girls

STUDENT EVALUATIONS - SUMMARY
21 students
100% of students said they thought the lesson was very good
100% of students said they had learnt a lot during the lesson
100% of students said they would like to attend more lessons at the Physics Factory

Note: 12 students said at the start of the lesson that they want to study Physics at A Level.

St Albans EDEXCEL P3 Gases Lesson 25th March 2010

"The physics factory is able to teach children and teenagers their science and particles and stuff."

Baverstock AQA P3 Light Lesson 23rd March 2010

Lordswood Girls Physics Factory group meet 'Starchasers' 15th March 2010

On Monday 15th March 2010 the space tourism company Starchasers brought a rocket to King Edward VI Five Ways School. The rocket is going to launch a tourist into space next year! The company hopes to compete with Richard Branson's larger space tourism company, Virgin Galactic. Lordswood Girls Physics Factory group got the chance to see the rocket and listen to a talk given by one of the rockets engineer.

The company’s website is:
http://www.starchaser.co.uk

Edge/Catholic Partnership Physics BTEC Day 1 Training (19/03/10)

Practical ideas to introduce into new BTEC assignments for the new BTEC specification Sept 2010

12 delegates
100% of delegates said they thought the course was either 'good or very good' with 75% saying it was 'very good'

Some comments from the delegates:
"Extremely helpful day, its great to have the hard work done for us in terms of assignments, resources etc"
"It would be good for all science staff to experience this day as it was very motivating"
"Excellent, very informative"
"Informative, interesting and well presented"
"Speaker clear, good class discussions"
"Many resources that can be swiftly incorporated into new/existing BTEC schemes"

Delegates identified future inset needs:-
‘Further BTEC training for non-specialists’
‘Help teaching higher level Physics for non-specialists’
‘Technician based course to demonstrate more Physics practicals’
‘More practical ideas to use in the classroom’

Robert Green said:
"Excellent hands-on activities that we could evaluate as to their suitability for (a) pupils to carry out and (b) meeting the assessment criteria for BTec qulaifications"

Anuja jalota said:
"Feel very enthused about teaching the physics in BTEC with great relevance to everyday life that will inspire students."

Waverley AQA P2 Examination Results

Waverley School's triple science group, who are being taught Physics at the Physics Factory recently received their first set of module grades. The students sat their AQA Physics P2 examination in January 2010.

A FEW HEADLINES:
24% of grades either A or A*
34% of students achieved higher than their target grade

Well done to Waverley students and teachers for all your hard work and commitment!

Waverley students receive conditional offer to join the King Edward VI Five Ways Sixth Form

Well done to Ahmed Usman, Farah Hussein, Makhmood Obaid and Shah Noor who have all been given conditional offers to join King Edward VI Sixth Form in September 2010. All will be studying Physics at A Level. In a questionnaire given to the students before being taught at the Physics Factory three of the students said they had no intention of studying Physics at A Level.

Physics BTEC Training Day 2 Thurs 25th February 2010

'Practical ideas to introduce into new BTEC assignments for the new BTEC specification Sept 2010'

19 delegates
100% of delegates said they thought the course was either 'good or very good' with 89% saying it was 'very good'

Some comments from the delegates:
"Well researched and presented course – production of DVD of resources is very useful"
"Good use by the presenters of the knowledge and ideas of the delegates"
"Very useful day – some great ideas"
"Very informative and well delivered"
"Excellent and informative day"
"I will use the ideas shared now to engage my students"
"Another excellent day – fantastic resources to be used in school"
"Great background information for the non physics specialists"
"Excellent course – thank you"
"Lots of information and ideas – even for a seasoned Physicist"
"Thank you, looking forward to similar days for Chemistry and Biology"


Delegates identified future inset needs:-
‘Courses for non specialists’
‘Support with writing schemes of work’
‘A level training’
‘Possibility of presenters coming into school’

Oaks Collegiate EDEXCEL IAA Training - Teachers & Students

Head of Science Bournville School said:
"a great venue; good resources and a nice positive environment; really focused the minds of the students"

Teacher from Lordswood Boys’ School said:
"Pupils enjoyed working at the physics factory and completed their activities very well
The presenters catered for all pupil needs (using VAK) to access the higher grades"

Physics BTEC Day 1 Training Friday 5th February 2010

'practical ideas to introduce into new BTEC assignments for the new BTEC specification Sept 2010'

18 delegates
100% of delegates said they thought the course was either 'good or very good' with 94% saying it was 'very good'

Some comments from the delegates:
"Extremely well organised, excellent collaboration by the speakers and very good resources ..."
"Great day, excellent ideas and a lot to take away"
"An excellent day, I now have a bank of resources to take back to school and share with colleagues"
"Shopping list for equipment was an excellent idea"
"Very helpful course, with plenty of motivational activities"
"I will now modify my assignment briefs to incorporate the activities that I have learned today"
"An overall inspiring day and plethora of useful ideas and resources to take away and use"
"Engaging and interesting, relevant to current situation"
"I have left with a better understanding of BTEC as a whole not just in Physics"

Delegates identified future inset needs:-
'How to make the space part of Physics more hands on'
'More, more, more!'
'Use of data logging in Physics'
'Physics courses for non-specialists who want to teach A level Physics'

Jim Whittle's visit to the Physics Factory Wed 3rd February 2010