STEM Week in PiXL Primary – Explore the resources today!
At PiXL, we believe that fostering a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in primary schools is essential, as it ignites pupils’ curiosity and critical thinking, empowering them to not just understand the world around them but to become problem-solvers and innovators who will shape it in the future. This is why we are proud to be supporting schools in celebrating PiXL STEM Week 2024, which is taking place from 26th February - 1st March. British Science Week is also only a couple of weeks from now, so we are hoping our PiXL STEM week may also support any planning for that, too!
In a world which is increasingly technology-driven, providing rich opportunities for children and young people to engage deeply with STEM has never been more important in terms of equipping them for future success. As the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2023 highlights: The fastest-growing roles relative to their size today are driven by technology, digitalization and sustainability. The report also identifies the most important skills that companies are seeking in their workers as being analytical thinking, followed by creative thinking and self-efficacy skills such as resilience, flexibility, agility, motivation and curiosity, all of which can be fostered through a focus on STEM.
To support schools in marking STEM week and in using it as a catalyst to ignite pupils’ passion and interest in STEM, we are delighted to be releasing a range of resources to support school leaders and teachers in celebrating STEM. You can find an overview of the available resources below:
Based on the findings from Ofsted’s Finding the Optimum: The Science Subject report (February 2023), the Science Leadership Thinking Guide supports school leaders to explore the theory behind learning in science as well as how to implement strategies in the science classroom to develop pupils’ substantive and disciplinary knowledge over time. The document also considers the importance of purposeful, practical work in science, how to ensure that meaningful and coherent links are made between science and maths and the crucial role that the development of scientific vocabulary plays in pupils’ understanding.
The Challenge and Stretch materials for Years 1 to 6, focusing on Animals including humans, have been designed to support you in enhancing the Key Stage 1 and 2 curricula already being delivered, by developing the accurate use of scientific vocabulary whilst increasing science capital, encouraging pupils to see that science is for them and relevant to their lives.
These materials are part of the PiXL Challenge and Stretch project, which aims to support school leaders and teachers in ensuring that all pupils, including the most able, are given the opportunity to meet their potential, through CPD, resources and leadership guidance.
Explore it HERE!
We know that climate change is a big concern for children and young people, with a survey of 1000 5–18-year-olds undertaken by the UCL in January 2022, finding that concern about the environment overshadowed a long list of other issues, including crime, gender and racial inequality and homelessness. It is crucial that pupils are equipped for the challenges and opportunities that climate change presents by supporting them to develop the appropriate knowledge, skills and understanding to help them to reduce climate anxiety and to be prepared to contribute to sustainability in their future careers. As the DfE states in their policy paper on Sustainability and climate change: a strategy for the education and children’s services systems (updated December 2023): Green jobs will not be niche. We anticipate that sustainability and climate change will touch every career.
Our Go Green Stimulus Sheets provide an opportunity for pupils to explore some of the important issues relating to sustainability and climate change including litter, use of plastics and fossil fuels. Each sheet presents a summary of the issue, ways that children and young people can help, pertinent vocabulary to support them in discussing the issue and links to useful websites to help them to find out more.
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PiXL’s work is truly remarkable and has been a saviour and sanctuary of common sense and really useful strategies at a time of madness!
Headteacher, PiXL Secondary school
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For me, PiXL is a community of like-minded learners who have a moral imperative to raise standards and support children and schools to be better – who wouldn't want to be in PiXL?
Executive Headteacher, PiXL Primary school
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PiXL provides a reassuring touchstone, and never more has that been so important to school leaders. PiXL is populated with like-minded and motivated colleagues who give due thought and consideration about how to best approach the myriad of decisions school leaders take every day. I've worked with PiXL for 8 years now and every meeting leaves me inspired to try new ideas, reassured about things my school is doing well and resolved to continually do better for the young people in my school.
Headteacher, PiXL Secondary school
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Post-16 support and resources are top quality — the adaptability of resources makes tailoring them to your students straightforward. The PiXL team are always open to suggestions and strive to ensure hard-working and innovative staff have a support base. They inspire teachers of all levels of experience.
Senior Leader, PiXL Post 16 school
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I can honestly say this has been one of the instrumental factors in our success story. The ideas, resources and expertise, which has been so willingly shared by the whole PiXL team, has enabled our Sixth Form to continually change and radically improve. Every single meeting has been packed with fresh ideas and practical tips to help students thrive, both academically and also as a well-rounded individual.
Headteacher, PiXL Post 16 school
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PiXL is more than just a network of schools; it is a welcoming organisation, with highly experienced people, offering unparalleled professional support and CPD. PiXL will continue to improve the education system and culture of the schools, Sixth Forms and colleges who introduce and embed their strategies, as it has already.
Senior Leader, PiXL Post 16 school
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We have used PiXL in our personal development package, in our interventions, in whole-school teaching and learning CPD and with our staff through PiXL Change. My respect for PiXL has grown and grown.
Senior Leader, PiXL Post 16 school
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PiXL has been a huge support network for our academies during these challenging times and has guided us, assisted us and provided us with resources to support our leaders, teachers and pupils. The PiXL team listen to us, take on feedback, ask us what we need and adapt their research and provision in order to suit all of our school’s different needs.
Executive Headteacher, PiXL Primary school
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As a member, PiXL provides our school with a wealth of professional development opportunities and high-quality resources for all areas of the core curriculum. Their approach of diagnosis, therapy, testing and revisiting enables us to easily identify children’s next steps on a one-to-one, small group and whole-class basis and then tailor our interventions and whole-class teaching to fill their gaps.
Executive Headteacher, PiXL Primary school
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The opportunity to work with such a strong, supportive, diverse team of highly–skilled professionals from across the country, as a PiXL family, has been a very valuable experience in developing the breadth and depth of my knowledge and skill–set, both as a teacher and a leader. Schools, staff and children lie at the heart of everything they do. The question on everyone’s lips is always: ‘What do schools need?’
Executive Headteacher, PiXL Primary school
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The beauty of PiXL is that you can pick and mix what you need and make it work for your school; you can be as PiXL as you want to be – it's a continuum.
Headteacher, PiXL Secondary school
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I trust my leaders with PiXL: PiXL leadership moves with the times and develops all tiers of leaders, ranging from my new middle leaders to my most experienced Heads of School. It has inspired them to question and challenge themselves, whilst holding their hand and supporting their next steps.
Headteacher, PiXL Post 16 school
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In a world of uncertainty, PiXL continues to show its true worth to schools across the nation. The integrity and humility with which the organisation works are quite unique in the world of education support and their drive to focus on the best for our young people is indubitable. Constantly offering support in key areas where the need is greatest, PiXL continues to be the greatest source of support imaginable.
Headteacher, PiXL Secondary school
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PiXL is completely driven by its values and moral purpose, acting solely in the interests of the young people in our schools by helping and supporting staff to choose the most appropriate, evidence-informed strategies and resources for their students. PiXL is an incredibly agile organisation in which the exceptional team is able to provide whatever support schools need in the interests of their students.
Senior Leader, PiXL Post 16 school