ABSTRACT
You are a newly qualified teacher. You have just started your first post and, along with the daunting prospect of a new class, you are also the science coordinator for Key Stage 1. The situation is certainly intimidating, considering you can only just decide how to group the tables in your new classroom. Take heart and know that your feelings of apprehension are nothing compared to those infant teachers’ panic attacks when, in 1985, there was a statement of policy made by the DES insisting that science should be taught in all infant classrooms. After 1985, new policy documents landed on school doormats with frightening regularity. Remember, many a science coordinator before you has had pre-curriculum meeting palpitations with the thoughts and fears of how to impress on fellow colleagues the need to implement sixteen attainment targets and their accompanying programmes of study. In addition, assessment, testing and record keeping were important aspects to be addressed.
