The Ogden Trust

David Gregory Year 5 Teacher, Newsham Primary - Blyth Valley Partnership

I was always determined to give the children from my local area the greatest chance to go on to have a career in sectors that I knew would change their lives and the community for the better – the Ogden Trust was a perfect partner to help develop our existing offer and make this vision a reality. Our students now genuinely view themselves as scientists and want others to join them in their passion for the subject, regularly sharing science research and home projects at a class and whole school level… It is deeply satisfying, knowing that we are making a tangible difference in the lives of our students and the wider community. David Gregory Year 5 Teacher, Newsham Primary Blyth Valley Partnership (2019–)

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Early Career Support: Jo

Jo Beswick is in her second year teaching science, with a specialism in biology. She teaches all science subjects up to GCSE at Great Marlow School and has now met her ECT requirements early. Jo has been on the Ogden early career programme and thinks that this support has helped her to excel in her ECT years. Jo tells us more about her teaching journey so far and the support she has received from The Ogden Trust.

My biology subject knowledge is obviously very strong, and my chemistry is good but my physics was shocking. When I was doing my teacher training year, I had to teach physics up to Year 8 and that felt manageable, but I didn’t enjoy it all – in fact, I hated it!  

I signed up for the Ogden Early Career programme for two reasons: firstly, for the subject knowledge and secondly for the confidence, and it has without doubt helped me with both. 

I take a lot of pride in my teaching, and I want it to be of a high enough standard that I give lessons that are really robust. It is all the little things, isn’t it? Making sure that the language you use is just right and that you are not introducing misconceptions.   

The Early Career programme has been amazing! I sing the praises of the Ogden Trust all the time! I went from a point of properly hating the subject and now just have no fear about teaching physics; I really enjoy it! I find it fascinating and interesting and that comes through when I am teaching.  

Mentoring 

My mentor made me feel like I was just scooped up – he was very accessible and open and available, and made it very easy for me to tap into the programme. He was so generous with his time and with his expert knowledge and he was really patient, which was fantastic for someone like me who struggled with some of the physics concepts.  

I was doing plenty of work in between my mentoring sessions, lots of practice GCSE questions, reading books, doing extra webinars – I did work really hard – but the inspiration from the programme made me want to do that.  

All of the training and mentoring I had from the early career programme was so specific to the classroom it was a massive build on subject knowledge but very much about application – I would come into the classroom and effectively my mentor had helped me to prepare for that lesson – explain it like this, ask these questions, try this practical. 

At the Ogden Early Career Festival, I was stunned by the enthusiasm of the Ogden team, the presenters, the mentors – everyone was just brilliant. I came away with resources, ideas and enthusiasm, including a big book of practicals [The Revised Resourceful Physics Teacher by Keith Gibbs] which is now one of my reference ‘bibles’.  

Classroom inspiration  

I have learned so many fantastic little practicals using everyday items and that is how I teach now. I have this big cupboard behind me in my classroom which is a homage to people I met during the Ogden early career programme. When I open the cupboard door the kids all go ‘wwwooohhhh’ because they know I am going to pull out some random stuff to demonstrate a point and I think that is one of the biggest things that I have got from the programme – how to bring the physics alive in the classroom in such brilliant ways. 

I can’t believe that the support from The Ogden Trust is free! Why are all the non-specialists not doing it! It has transformed how I teach physics and how I feel about teaching physics. 

Jo Beswick
Science Teacher
Great Marlow School
(March 2024) 

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Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching CPD: Sarah (tutor)

Sarah Grady teaches physics at Deanery CE High School in Wigan; she is also a tutor on our Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching (SKPT) course – a fully funded blended learning CPD programme for teachers teaching KS3 and KS4 physics out of specialism. 

I absolutely love delivering SKPT. It’s a joy to have a group of teachers who want to embrace the subject and get stuck into the course. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to nurture our teachers of physics and I think the SKPT courses have an immense value.  

The face-to-face sessions allow teachers to have hands-on experience setting up and carrying out practicals in a safe environment; they can make their mistakes and discuss misconceptions before taking it back to the classroom. The past participants love the fact that the online platform stays open for them, so they can go back to the information just before they are teaching that topic for an information refresh.   

Personally, I think that SKPT shows teachers that physics isn’t scary! I try to make the course a ‘safe space’, where any questions/comments can be said with no judgement. It’s quite funny – at the beginning of the first session for a topic, the room is usually silent, and everyone looks terrified. The only people talking are the ones who are returning teachers coming back for another module. By the end of the first face-to-face day, the room is full of chat and laughter.  

SKPT participant gather after their Atomic Physics session.

Teachers respond to each other and share so much more than just physics. For lots of them, they are the only physics teacher in their school and have no one to bounce ideas around with. This course gives them the reassurance and confidence that they are doing things right. The face-to-face sessions allow teachers from a range of schools, with pupils from a range of backgrounds, to interact with each other and to share ideas and good practice. 

Participants gain so much subject knowledge from the course, but they also lose that ‘fear’ of physics. They begin to see physics as accessible to all and relevant to everyday life. I have seen participants go from being terrified at the prospect of teaching physics to really enjoying it! 

I have had one participant complete all six modules with me and I have seen her flourish. Her knowledge and confidence with her physics has astounded me. She was brilliant to have in the sessions as she was great at generating discussion and bringing her ideas to the groups. She has gone on to successfully apply for Ogden Trust early career mentoring, so hopefully she will be teaching A-level physics and running her own physics department in the near future! 

Sarah Grady
Deanery CE High School, Wigan
(September 2024)

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Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching CPD: Fiona

I have completed all six SKPT modules over the course of a year and I have now been employed as a physics teacher, primarily teaching GCSE physics. If I hadn’t done SKPT I would not have got the job.  

I trained originally in PE and was working in a secondary SEN department delivering science to small groups of students. I had specialised in biomechanics when I studied sports science – it had elements of applied physics, so I was keen to build that knowledge when I returned to teaching. 

SKPT has given me greater understanding of the physics content and greater depth to my teaching. It has helped me question what I do and why and has helped me tailor my teaching to the different levels and abilities of students.  

I loved the face-to-face days, getting to know the tutors, finding familiar faces across the modules, and exploring physics in a safe learning environment. These days were really helpful in running through the required practicals and other practical ideas, but it was also great to compare experiences of the different teaching backgrounds with others on the course, everyone had things they could add. 

Away from the in-person days, I liked that you could study at your own pace, with all the online information and many videos to support the learning. I have been able to use the STEM Learning library and resources at York and have got some really useful ideas for supporting SEN students.  

I would most definitely recommend SKPT and have done! It really helps you understand the different knowledge required for both KS3 and KS4 physics. It is great to meet people who genuinely want to help you, whatever level you are starting from. Ultimately, it helped me get a good job and can really help to develop your career.  

Fiona Whitehead
SKPT participant
(October 2024) 

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