Enquiry Types Webinar Series

Kathryn Horan has been a PSTT Fellow since 2016 when she was honoured with a PSTT Science Teacher Award. She has taught in primary schools for over a decade, working with children across all Key Stages and leading science for most of her time as a teacher. In 2020, she was awarded the Charter Mark for Science Teaching (CSciTeach) in recognition of her ongoing commitment to her own professional development and its impact on others.

In addition to her work as a Regional and Area Mentor for the PSTT, Kathryn is also a PSQM Hub Leader, a Lead Facilitator for STEM Learning, and chair of the ASE Yorkshire Regional Committee. In her role as an independent consultant and author, she has worked with a wide range of organisations, including the Royal Society, Cambridge International, the Royal Society of Chemistry and Oak National Academy. She has also authored a book, ‘Wow! But Why?’ which aims to help primary teachers deliver ‘wow moments’ in science that lead to real, meaningful learning.

Chris Lawson has been teaching for over 30 years, with experience across the primary age range. She is currently a teacher in a primary school in Durham, where she has led science and Early Years since 2008 and has led her school to PSQM Silver, Gold and Outreach. She became a PSTT fellow in 2016.

Chris is passionate about ensuring all children can access high quality science lessons and extra-curricular experiences and helping them to realise that there is something for everyone in the world of science. She has a particular love for science in EYFS, firmly believing that it is never too early to become a scientist.

Kate Redhead has been a Fellow of PSTT since 2012, with her Primary Science Teacher Award endorsed by the Wellcome Trust. Before joining PSTT, she worked as a Science Subject Leader and later as an Assistant Head at a large primary school in Birmingham. During her teaching career, Kate earned a Masters in Education, focusing on designing and implementing science schemes of work, and completed her NPQH qualification. She also introduced a Science Lab at her school and led a Research Learning Community to explore the impact of dialogue on science teaching and learning.

An active contributor to the science education community, Kate is a member of the West Midlands ASE committee, an Ambassador for Children’s University, and a Regional Champion for the Great Science Share. She has written for teacher journals and created several PSTT resources to support educators. Committed to lifelong learning, Kate is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education at Birmingham University. She is passionate about empowering science leaders to foster a love of the subject within their schools.

Rebecca Ellis has been a Fellow of PSTT since 2018. Before teaching, she worked as a research scientist at Cranfield University and English China Clays International, contributing to the fields of wastewater treatment and biofilm systems through her published papers. Her 20-year teaching career includes leading science in a junior school in Warwickshire, where she achieved gold standards in PSQM and SSQM and developed family learning programs. Rebecca is motivated by a deep understanding of each child, aiming to inspire a love of learning through creative teaching methods.

As an Explorify Engagement Leader, Rebecca developed resources like the ‘Climate Challenge’ collection and the ‘Celebrating Scientists’ section, and she delivers teacher CPD, focusing on professional learning communities. She leads the ‘Explorify for Inclusion’ project, supporting teachers in building children’s long-term memory. Rebecca is also involved in PSTT’s ‘Did you know?’ team, creating interactive models to help children understand climate change and fostering constructive hope for the future. As a Regional Mentor and PSQM hub leader, she enjoys collaborating with teachers to build their confidence in teaching primary science and inspiring children to see science as accessible and relevant to them.

Ruth Shallcross has been a Fellow of the Primary Science Teacher College since 2013. During her teaching career she has worked in three North London schools each with a contrasting pupil demographic. She has held a number of roles: class teacher, subject leader and most recently Assistant Headteacher. For much of her career Ruth has combined her role in school with working as an Advanced Skills Teacher/Lead Practitioner for the Local Authority. Ruth has coached and mentored a range of colleagues in the development of teaching and learning, and subject leadership; her focus is on the empowerment of colleagues and building capacity.

Ruth is passionate about helping all children to succeed and seeks to achieve this through creative approaches to teaching often using cross-curricular links to deepen engagement. Her particular areas of interest are scientific literacy, making abstract concepts understandable and creating enjoyable learning experiences.

Angharad Pass has been working in education for almost 20 years, of which 12 were as a science subject leader. During this time, she led her school to PSQM Silver and Outreach and then became a PSQM Hub Leader herself. Working in the Yorkshire and Humber region, she has supported over 30 schools to achieve PSQM.

Angharad became a PSTT Fellow in 2018 after winning a Primary Science Teacher Award (PSTA) and is also the Chair of the ASE Primary Committee. She has worked with a wide range of organisations delivering CPD and developing resources, including Findel Publishing, the Great Science Share for Schools as a Regional Champion, NFU and STEM Learning and has also worked as an Associate Lecturer for ITT in Leeds.

Both primary science and outdoor learning continue to be passions for Angharad, and she is proud to be supporting schools and science leaders to inspire the next generation of scientists in her role as Regional Mentor.

Sarah Eames is a part-time teacher with experience across the primary age range, beginning her teaching career in 1992. Appointed as Science Lead in 2008, her passion for science education was reignited through excellent courses and inspiring colleagues. She strongly believes that science integrates essential English and math skills in a real-world context and should be central to every school’s curriculum. Under her leadership, Sandfield Close Primary School achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark Outreach Award and the Eco Green Flag Award, while her Cluster of schools earned the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Team Prize for Excellence in Primary Education.

Sarah is deeply involved in the science education community, serving on the Primary Committee of the Association of Science Education (ASE) and gaining Chartered Science Teacher status in 2012. She proudly became a Primary Science Teaching Trust Fellow the same year. For the past decade, Sarah has taught primary science to Leicester SCITT. Now, as an Area and Regional Mentor, she is committed to supporting and encouraging science leaders and teachers to deliver excellent science education throughout their schools.