Registered charity number 1005331 Supporting the teaching of Earth sciences at all levelsSecondary educationESTA’s main contribution to teacher education at secondary level is through the separate medium of the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU), set up by Oil and Gas UK in association with ESTA. ESTA also holds an annual Secondary workshop for members.ESTA Secondary workshop.This event is held on a Saturday once every year at the Science Learning Centre at Keele University. ESTA members interested in teaching at this level are invited to attend this event and take part in a range of workshop sessions. In 2011 workshop sessions included:•developing maths/geology exercises - for the teaching of maths through geological approaches and visa versa,•developing the Derby University seismology work,•looking at future Earthlearningidea plans,•progression in Earth science fieldworkMembers who are interested in finding out more about next year's workshop or joining this workshop should contact here.EarthlearningideaThe Earthlearningidea team seeks to produce a teaching idea every week, at minimal cost, with minimal resources, for teacher educators and teachers of Earth science through school-level geography or science. If you would like to submit an idea to be added to this global support network,there is a template available here and an explanation for the template here.Earth Science Education Unit ProgressThis is a brief overview report on operational activities of ESEU, January - April 2011. Workshop booking statistics for 2009/10 are compared against figures for 2010/11.ESEU Progress of the ESEU INSET initiative in England, Northern Ireland and WalesNumber of monthly visits 2009/10 compared against 2010/11ESEU Primary Progress in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (E, NI & W).2011 Geology entry updateThe 2011 updates of the Geology examination entry graphs are given below.The 'headlines' are:•A-level Geology entry was 1900, slightly up on last year (by 7), but as a percentage of total A-level entry it fell slightly. The entry by centre type shows a marked increase in 'comprehensive school' entry - but this is because academies have been included with comprehensive schools; the 'best way' of showing academies on a graph of this type is not yet clear, as their previous status was mixed. •AS Geology entry was 3148, a marked increase of 20% on 2010. However, most of this is an artefact of a change in funding arrangements this year for English maintained schools. As a consequence, many more AS-level candidates than previously certificated at AS-level. The position will be clearer next year, but it is encouraging to note that, while AS-level Geology subject entry increased by 20%, the total AS-level subject entry increased by only 18%. •GCSE Geology entry was 1112, a further increase by 10% on 2010. This also in a year when all GCSE entries fell by -4%. Chris King and Ben Jones, 30th August 2011
Registered charity number 1005331
Supporting the teaching of Earth sciences at all levels
Secondary education
ESTA’s main contribution to teacher education at secondary level is through the separate
medium of the Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU), set up by Oil and Gas UK in association
with ESTA. ESTA also holds an annual Secondary workshop for members.
ESTA Secondary workshop.
This event is held on a Saturday once every year at the Science Learning Centre at Keele
University. ESTA members interested in teaching at this level are invited to attend this event
and take part in a range of workshop sessions. In 2011 workshop sessions included:
•
developing maths/geology exercises - for the teaching of maths through geological
approaches and visa versa,
•
developing the Derby University seismology work,
•
looking at future Earthlearningidea plans,
•
progression in Earth science fieldwork
Members who are interested in finding out more about next year's workshop or joining this
workshop should contact here.
Earthlearningidea
The Earthlearningidea team seeks to produce a teaching idea every week, at minimal cost, with
minimal resources, for teacher educators and teachers of Earth science through school-level
geography or science. If you would like to submit an idea to be added to this global support
network,there is a template available here and an explanation for the template here.
Earth Science Education Unit Progress
This is a brief overview report on operational activities of ESEU, January - April 2011. Workshop
booking statistics for 2009/10 are compared against figures for 2010/11.
ESEU Progress of the ESEU INSET initiative in England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Number of monthly visits 2009/10 compared against 2010/11
ESEU Primary Progress in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (E, NI & W)
.
2011 Geology entry update
The 2011 updates of the Geology examination entry graphs are given below.
The 'headlines' are:
•
A-level Geology entry was 1900, slightly up on last year (by 7), but as a percentage of total A-level
entry it fell slightly. The entry by centre type shows a marked increase in 'comprehensive school' entry -
but this is because academies have been included with comprehensive schools; the 'best way' of
showing academies on a graph of this type is not yet clear, as their previous status was mixed.
•
AS Geology entry was 3148, a marked increase of 20% on 2010. However, most of this is an artefact of
a change in funding arrangements this year for English maintained schools. As a consequence, many
more AS-level candidates than previously certificated at AS-level. The position will be clearer next year,
but it is encouraging to note that, while AS-level Geology subject entry increased by 20%, the total AS-
level subject entry increased by only 18%.
•
GCSE Geology entry was 1112, a further increase by 10% on 2010. This also in a year when all GCSE
entries fell by -4%.
Chris King and Ben Jones, 30th August 2011
