TSN offers a variety of CPD opportunities to teachers in both primary and secondary schools.  We also publicise opportunities for other organisations supporting science in Norfolk/Suffolk.

Primary Science CPD

For primary teachers there is the possibility to request bespoke science subject knowledge cpd.  Based on our successful Primary Science Workshops model we can come to your school and boost the subject knowledge of all staff teaching science, giving participants the chance to try out science practicals during the sessions whilst boosting their subject knowledge.  Contact us to discuss your needs.

“thanks for an inspiring day; I now feel more confident to tackle practical science“

In collaboration with the John Innes Centre education programme, dedicated plant science CPD will be available later this year and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the next Norfolk Science Teaching Conference

Secondary Science CPD

ABE

TSN is proud to be the coordinator of the Norwich hub for the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE). From our home at the John Innes Centre,  we offer molecular biology CPD to teachers and technicians to empower and enable them to run curriculum-relevant DNA practicals’ with their students. All the kit and consumables are provided by the hub. This entire project is completely free for schools to get involved with thanks to generous funding from the Amgen Foundation (awarded to the University of Hertfordshire who manage the programme across the UK).

The next CPD sessions are scheduled for xxxxxxxxxx

With gene cloning and DNA profiling being a part of the GCSE specifications and PCR and bacterial transformation, part of A-level, BTECs and T-levels, it makes sense to sign-your school up now.

GIFT

Since 2003, TSN has been one of the principal UK actors promoting and supporting the participation by UK teachers to attend GIFT – Geoscience Information for Teachers.

GIFT is a 2.5 day, subject-knowledge rich CPD event focussed on the geosciences (and as such supports both science and geography teachers). The event is organised by the   European Geosciences Union (EGU) and held in Vienna alongside their general assembly in April/May each year.

TSN advertises and processes applications from UK teachers, selecting those to attend the workshop which features leading speakers, practical sessions and teacher-teacher exchanges. Generously subsidised by the EGU, this pan-European event, brings together approx. 80 teachers from across Europe & beyond, is free to teachers, asides from their time out of the classroom.

Applications open in October each year (for the following Spring). Further details about the event can be found at www.egu.eu/education/gift/

Typically, around 80 high school teachers from across Europe and beyond (19 countries in 2014) participate in the GIFT workshops and the UK has been represented every year sending up to 6 teachers to the event. TSN is keen that this trend continues with TSN-teachers and those from other UK-regions attending the event.

For the first time in 2009 a limited number of the presentations were recorded and are available as online videos. This has continued and provides a rich catalogue of accessible geoscience talks and presentations. More about the educational activities of the EGU Education Committee and further details of the GIFT workshops can be found www.egu.eu/education

The 23rd GIFT workshop will take place between 3rd and 6th May 2026. Applications will open early October 2025

Master Class archive

TSN pioneered the Master Class programme from its very early days. They were developed in response to teacher-need – requests to be kept up-to-date in specific scientific fields. Although Master Classes were designed for high-school teachers of science, teachers of other subjects were encouraged to attend if the topic leant itself to cross-curricular learning (eg. GIS Master Class in June 2007 was attended by geographers and scientists).

TSN Master Classes were not designed to supply classroom activities or curriculum packs that were necessarily suitable for children’s use; they were to help update the teachers’ own science base–which, in turn, should enable them to develop appropriate classroom materials and re-ignite their enthusiasm for the subject. Unfortunately it became increasingly difficult for teachers to be released from the classroom for CPD that was not curriculum-relevant and TSN stopped organising them in 2011. GIFT still provides an element of this, but only related to the geosciences.

Our Master Class archive includes the materials shared at the time of the Master Class.

See  http://www.tsn.org.uk/MC_archive.htm NOTE this needs to be rewritten as the MC Archive isn’t moving to the new website