The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is recruiting schools to take part in the EEF FOCUS4TAPS Trial - Primary Science. 

TAPS - Teachers Assess Primary Science supports the formative use of assessment in primary science. The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) team have developed and piloted the resources and approach over several years, putting into practice a ​‘formative to summative’ model of assessment originally proposed by the Nuffield Foundation. TAPS research and development was funded by the Primary Science Teaching Trust. That development included qualitative research that suggested teachers did effectively improve their assessments following TAPS training, and increased their use of practical activities in science.

The NEW Focus4TAPS is a three-day CPD programme for the science lead and a Year 5 teacher. This new EEF funded primary science trial is a great opportunity to access the programme, which has been found to have a positive impact on pupil attainment and teacher confidence.

Recruitment is now open to all state-funded schools in Suffolk and Essex. It is a randomised control trial, so schools will either be in the intervention group (CPD in 2024-25 for £150 fee, but then £200 thank you payment for completion), or the control group (£500 thank you for waiting, then offered CPD in 25-26 at subsidised rate). Once schools are selected, they will begin training in Autumn 2024. The training consists of a day per term, with follow-up tasks. 

You can register your interest here. After this you will be invited to an information meeting and also sent a memorandum of understanding, which must be completed prior to the trial.