Education Endowment Foundation:Primary Science Quality Mark – first trial

Primary Science Quality Mark – first trial

Primary Science Quality Mark
Implementation costThe cost estimates in the Toolkits are based on the average cost of delivering the intervention. 
Evidence strengthThis rating provides an overall estimate of the robustness of the evidence, to help support professional decision-making in schools.Not given for this trial
Impact (months)The impact measure shows the number of additional months of progress made, on average, by children and young people who received the intervention, compared to similar children and young people who did not.
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Project info

Independent Evaluator

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The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a whole school accreditation programme aimed at improving science teaching and learning.

Schools: 155 Grant: £374,245
Key Stage: 2 Duration: 1 year(s) 8 month(s) Type of Trial: Efficacy level evidence
Completed July 2020

The project

Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a one-year professional learning programme for primary science subject leaders. It focuses on improving school self-evaluation of science. PSQM seeks to improve science teaching and learning throughout the school by improving the skill, quality and confidence of science subject leadership.

PSQM involves training and mentoring for groups of science subject leaders. The programme also involves a structured set of activities carried out by the subject leaders in school. The quality mark is achieved following the submission and assessment of a reflective portfolio of evidence of the impact of the improved subject leadership.

EEF summary

This trial of PSQM was funded by the EEF and Wellcome as part of our joint Improving Science Education funding round. Evidence suggests that high-quality science education depends on effective subject and school leadership, including allocating sufficient time to teach science. However, research shows this does not always happen, particularly in primary schools.

Existing qualitative research suggests that PSQM can benefit schools in multiple ways. However, to date, there is no experimental evidence on whether accreditation leads to improvements in pupil outcomes in science.

This project and its evaluation were affected by the 2020 and 2021 partial school closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The trial was extended but ultimately the collection of pupil outcome data was not possible. However, the implementation and process evaluation was completed.

Headteachers and science subject leads attributed several changes which were in line with PSQM’s Theory of Change. For example, headteachers and science subject leads reported that taking part in PSQM had raised the profile of science in their schools, with more time being dedicated to science. They also reported that those in science leadership in their school had become more confident and credible.

The programme was well received by science subject leads. School staff said that factors which enabled them to implement PSQM effectively included support from the Senior Leadership Team in the school, support from the Hub Leader, and the positive attitude of staff involved in the programme. Staff time and the workload of the programme were considered the biggest barriers to implementation.

The EEF is now funding an effectiveness trial of PSQM. Find out more here.

Where the schools in the trial similar to my school?

Project type: Efficacy level evidenceKey Stage: Key Stage 2Subject: Science
  • There were 155 schools involved in the trial.
  • 113 schools were ​‘Good’ or ​‘Outstanding’ in their last Ofsted rating.
  • 19% of the pupils in the Year 5 participating classes were eligible for Free School Meals.

Could I implement this in my school?

Delivered by: TeachersParticipant group: Whole ClassIntervention length: 1 years

The programme is available to buy from the University of Hertfordshire.

PSQM involves science subject leads participating in the equivalent of two days of training. Normally these sessions would be delivered in one academic year, however, because of disruptions caused by COVID-19 in the trial these were spread over two years.

Science subject leads receive materials including the PSQM framework, an initial self-assessment audit, templates for action planning and reflection on impact and self-led continuing professional development activities for to use in their school. Subject leaders are supported by the Hub Leader, with ongoing online mentoring provided via the PSQM Virtual Learning Environment.

How much will it cost?

Cost per pupil: N/ANo. of teachers/TAs: -Staff training duration: 2 days

As there was no impact estimate in the trial and as costs would not be representative of ​‘usual’ delivery practices, data on costs was not collected in the trial.

In 2021 – 22, University of Hertfordshire charged £850 to take part in PSQM, or £500 for schools with fewer than 100 pupils.

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