Table 7: An interview with a Primary School science coordinator

Sample interview questions for the Principal and/or science

coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the setting.

Is there a science coordinator and/or how many

specified science teachers are there in the school?
What are the duties/responsibilities of the science
teacher/coordinator?

Does she teach any, all students or just specific year groups?
Obtain a teaching schedule and any schemes of work, lesson
plans, software used etc. from the science
coordinator/teacher.
2

Who is responsible for science policy and provision

within the setting?

Responses from the Principal and/or science

coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the
setting.
Yes / 8 teachers
Coordinator -> planning - organizing - overseen the
science program - curriculum and assessments
Teachers -> design - write - update the curriculum assessments - reports

Teach all students of the year group

Yes/ daily plan - weekly plan - yearly plan

Principal - VP - science coordinator

(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)

Online/Blended Learning:
Does the setting have its own website? If so, what is the
URL, who created it and who is responsible for managing
and updating it?
Is there any online/blended learning taking place related to
science? If so, how is this delivered?

What ICT resources are used specifically for teaching

Yes / http://www.gemswestminsterschool-rak.com/

Yes/ We use education city as a tool of science

learning in uploading the science materials for the
students
Youtube - google - Education city - bitesize - TES

science?
4

What science equipment/manipulatives/resources can

be found the setting? (Is there a list? Differentiate between the
classroom; the science lab and other areas in the setting e.g. library)

Is there a budget for materials?

Yes

Who trains teachers and staff in the use the equipment?

Edulab

Who manages the equipment and materials?

Lab assistance

Is/Are there dedicated science labs in this setting?

Yes/ all basic science equipments for primary and

secondary

If yes, how is it used and by whom? How is it organised?

What equipment can be found here?

 If no, why not? e.g. lack of funds? No need? Enough science

equipment and expertise in each classroom?
Does the setting feel it has enough specialist science
teachers, technicians and dedicated science rooms?
6

Which science resources does the setting feel it needs or

would like to have to achieve its vision or better science
teaching and learning?
e.g. Science Kits, books, wifi, manipulatives/models, digital
cameras/camcorders, lab equipment OR soft materials
(consumables- colored paper, glue, popsicle sticks etc.).

Yes

Are the safety rules posted in the science setting?

Don't touch animals

Wear safety goggles
Wear lab coat
Wear gloves when necessary
Don't eat at your workstation
Clean up your workspace
Be careful with sharp tools
Wash your hands

What safety equipment is available and when is it used

commonly?
Is safety equipment available for all students in the
classrooms?
Is equipment cleaned, if so by whom? Who manages this
duty?

10

Science kits
Books
Lab equipments
Models

What are the safety rules?

Who developed these and are they mandatory/enforced?

Yes

Fume cupboard
Safety room for chemicals
Eye washer
Coat / Gloves / Glass

Lab assistant

Planning for learning- how are the science lessons

planned for in the setting?
Does the MOE/Zone/KHDA provide unit plans/lesson plans?
(can we obtain a copy of this?)

Moe - term plan - yearly plan - lesson plan

Are there weekly planning meetings? What is usually done

in the planning meetings?

Yes/ planning for the week lesson

Who attends the planning meetings?

Teachers with coordinator

Yes

Does the school have specific goals related to science

(TIMMS scores etc.)?

How is learning assessed in the science classroom?

By activities - projects - experiments - digital

Is there an assessment plan for the semester? What does it

include?

Yes / peer assessment / formative / summative

Do teachers collect student data? What data, when, and

Yes / level the students / differentiation

what is it used for?

How do students get feedback so that they can make
improvements?
11

They get feedback from the teacher after every

assessment / activity

What science professional development / training do

teachers currently receive or have recently had?
How frequently and from whom did they /are they receiving
this?
Do they have a document that outlines this PD?

Yes / Gems PD

What PD do they think teachers in the setting still need?

Classroom teaching and learning