We offer a wide range of CPD opportunities to suit individual teachers’ needs; this includes face-to-face courses, online courses and other forms of teacher professional development.
Addressing subject specific pedagogical approaches is at the heart of our courses. This results in courses which focus on how to teach, and effective use of both lab and non-lab based practical activities in the classroom.
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What we offer
About our courses
CPD for secondary teachers
CPD for primary teachers
Courses
Addressing subject specific pedagogical approaches is at the heart of our courses. This results in courses that focus on how to teach, and effective use of both lab and non-lab based practical activities in the classroom.
We have four series of courses available in the UK.
- Developing expertise in teaching chemistry
- Chemistry for non-specialists
- Inspiring creative chemistry teaching
- New curriculum-focused courses
Our face to face and online courses are designed to be complementary and provide you with a choice of how to engage with our CPD.
Articles
You may not think of reading a magazine or journal article as professional development. However, these often provide one of the most easily accessible forms of CPD, and can come in a variety of forms such as:
CPD articles: suggestions of particular activities and resources and how to use these most effectively in areas of your teaching. Examples can be found in our magazines, including Education in Chemistry.
Features: contextual background and enrichment to areas of your teaching, showing how the topic applies to everyday life and current research. Examples can be found in our magazines, including Chemistry World, Education in Chemistry and RSC News.
Blog posts and opinion pieces: a personal opinion or viewpoint on a topical issue. They promote discussion and help us to reflect on teaching practice. Examples can be found across publications and media in Education in Chemistry, Chemistry World, RSC News, Talk chemistry and Elementary articles.
Reviews: summaries of recent research in chemistry education, and how cutting edge peer reviewed research has been conducted, plus how this can be applied by you in the classroom to support sudents’ learning. Examples can be found in Education in Chemistry, Chemistry World and RSC News.
Demonstrations: for example, Exhibition Chemistry within Education in Chemistry.
Journals
Research articles provide insight into specific areas of chemistry teaching and practice. Chemistry Education Research and Practice (CERP) is a journal for teachers, researchers and other practitioners in chemistry education. This is free to access thanks to sponsorship by our Education Division.
Teaching resources
We have over 4,000 free-to-access resources on Learn Chemistry that can be used in the classroom or as part of your professional development.
There are a variety of resource types that actively support your professional development:
Planning tools: for example the Science ideas webs, which are designed to promote the effective integration of science into cross-curricula teachings.
Books, eBooks: such as Chemical misconceptions I and II, by Keith Taber, which look at common misconceptions students have and how best to address them
Research papers: including Beyond Appearances: Students’ misconceptions about basic chemical ideas by Vanessa Kind
And resources that are more relevant to your day-to-day teaching, which will indirectly support your professional development. These resources include the following.
Screen experiments: online, interactive pre-lab activities designed to support students’ practical skill development
Curriculum mapping documents: links to resources and resource collections which are relevant to your specification and curricula to help you save time in identifying relevant resources
Hand-outs and worksheets: resources that can be downloaded and used with your classes, covering all aspects of chemistry and are of a high-quality and are scientifically accurate
Games and posters
Chartered Science Teacher (CSciTeach)
CSciTeach is a chartered mark recognising excellence in science teaching and learning. Gaining CSciTeach demonstrates your commitment to your profession and can help you to advance your career.
We are licensed by the Science Council to award CSciTeach to eligible members. If you are not yet a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, start an application for membership today.
Eligibility
CSciTeach applies across all sectors of science teaching from primary and secondary schools to further and higher education institutions. Those working in other science education settings such as museums may also apply.
To be eligible to apply for CSciTeach you must:
- be a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) or Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
- hold a Royal Society Chemistry accredited degree, or equivalent
- hold a masters level qualification in education or pedagogy, or demonstrate equivalence through experience
- have a minimum of four years' appropriate experience of teaching science, including additional responsibilities over the past two years
- provide evidence of meeting the required competence standards, demonstrating your impact on science teaching and learning
If you have gained Chartered Chemist (CChem) or Chartered Scientist (CSci) status while in a teaching role, you should contact us for an alternative application form as you will have already demonstrated a number of key competences.
How to apply for CSciTeachCosts
- Application fee of £75.
- Retention of CSci is £40 per year, paid along with membership renewals.
How to apply
Once you are ready to apply for CSciTeach refer to the application requirements before completing the application form.
Application requirements
The application form is set out in three sections:
- General information
- Education and experience
- Professional review
In the professional review section you should outline how you meet each of the competences in sections A-E by giving examples of your activities and experiences.
It is important that you identify a supporter for your application, who should be a close colleague that can verify the statements made on your application form. You also need to identify an independent referee, who should be a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry or another professional body.
Maintaining CSciTeach
A key requirement for holding chartered status is that you must demonstrate your commitment to continually maintaining and updating your professional expertise and competence. After being awarded CSciTeach, you will be expected to revalidate your status annually by providing your CPD record for formal review.
Your CPD should be a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice and should normally include activities in at least three of the following categories:
- Work based learning
- Professional activity
- Formal or educational
- Self-directed learning
- Other
Information for supporters
If you are a supporter of a member’s application for CSciTeach status you will be confirming that the information they have provided is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.
You should work closely with the applicant and be confident in their abilities, competence and commitment to professional development. You should offer advice to the applicant in preparing their application and help them to identify suitable examples of activities and experiences for their professional review.
Continuing Professional Development for Teachers
- Email:
- Send us an email