Technicians National Conference

I put out an email to all the technical support staff in East Lothian today asking for applications to become a delegate at the technicians national consultative conference in November.

The consultative conference is part of a project set up to address priorities identified by the Scottish Executive in a report called “Why Science Education Matters: Supporting and Improving Science Education in Schools”

This report made recommendations including

1. "Technical support in schools must be strengthened so that pupils can experience and stimulation of “hands-on” practical work”.

2 ".....such staff members should be seen as an integral part of the science provision, having access to appropriate CPD and career enhancement opportunities".

The main aim for the inaugural conference last year was to gather data to determine current provision of CPD for technical support staff in the primary and secondary sectors throughout each of the 32 local authorities, and to identify the best way forward for improving support for science and technology education.

As a result of last years meeting several CPD opportunities for technical support staff were identified. This led to the courses being created, then piloted in some local authorities, most of which are currently awaiting accreditation from the SQA before being made available on a national basis.

I hope that this years conference can continue the good work being done and that East Lothian can be at the forefront of this worthwhile project.