Testimonial Film Featuring Ayesha Weston Headteacher at the Caldew Lea Primary School

Ayesha Weston Headteacher from Caldew Lea Primary School was appointed as headteacher in 2019 by the Cumbria Education Trust. The school, a one form entry primary school set in an area of deprivation in West Carlisle, went into special measures in 2018. Parents found it difficult to provide support (despite the will being there to do so).

Key Points:

• Prior to joining the school, there had been very little staff CPD across the school, particularly in science.
• Staff had limited understanding of what excellent, engaging science skills looked like in the classroom.
• Developing Experts’ resources has enabled the school’s teaching and support staff to teach science with total confidence.
• It’s an easy programme to deliver.
• Lessons are over planned, which enables the staff to select what they want to use.
• Using Developing Experts has led to improved science subject knowledge.
• It bought science alive for the children.
• Childrens’ science vocabulary and use of vocabulary has improved dramatically.
• Developing Experts provided the infrastructure needed to support each child's circle of influence.
• It’s led to the children having a greater understanding of science as a life skill.
• During the Coronavirus pandemic, the remote learning of science enabled parents to develop their understanding of the science curriculum in a supported and structured way – greatly appreciated by parents!
• Developing Experts has led to a complete turnaround in delivering an excellent science curriculum.

“As a school, we could not survive without Developing Experts. It has raised the aspirations for parents, pupils, and teachers. All teachers have a level playing field. Monitoring the quality of teaching, learning and assessment has enabled teachers to be confident and secure in their own judgments of what great science looks like.

It has really sharpened teachers’ understanding and ability to question what they want children to get out of science. It’s stimulated questions and ideas for all staff. It’s such an easy programme to deliver. It’s led to a greater level of creativity and use of investigations in science, which were not present before. It’s brought science to life for children.”