Primary School Subject Coordinators-HELP NEEDED!

[GabrielleS199]

Good Evening All,

I wonder if anybody could help me. I have just started by second year at Open University studying BA Honours Early Childhood. For my first assignment I need to interview three different primary school teachers, one for Maths, Science and English. I did have a practise setting planned in, however due to Covid-19 I cannot attend now and I am having to do all my collaborations online.

Here is the list of questions I would like to ask each subject leader. If anybody could please help me by replying and answering my questions it would be greatly appreciated.

Maths Interview

1. Does the school follow a particular scheme of work for maths? Why (what is the rationale for this)?
2. What do you feel is most important for children to learn?
3. How are parents involved in children’s maths learning?
4. What opportunities do children have to use and apply their maths learning in other curriculum areas? Can you give an example?
5. What is the role of maths across the curriculum?
6. How does the school provide for children who are experiencing difficulties in maths, and for those who display a particular talent in this area?
7. What are the key things that practitioners need to know about maths? To what level of maths do you think teaching assistants, or other ‘adults other than teachers’, need to be competent to support children effectively in the primary years?
8. In one sentence, how would you describe your vision for children’s maths learning within the school?

English Interview

1. Can you tell me how the teaching of ‘English’ has changed over time, in your experience?
2. What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of the current English curriculum?
3. What do you feel are the most important things for children to learn in this curriculum area?
4. What are the most important skills that a primary teacher should have in this subject area?
5. What do you think teaching assistants should know about supporting English?
6. Can you tell me how the school follows, extends or improves the national curriculum for English?
7. Can you give a recent example of English learning in another curriculum area?

Science Interview

1. Does the school follow a particular scheme of work for science? Why (what is the rationale for this)?
2. What do you feel is most important for children to learn?
3. What are the key things that practitioners (such as teachers and teaching assistants) need to know about science?
4. To what level of science do you think different practitioners need to be competent to support children effectively in the primary years?
5. What opportunities do children have to learn science through inquiry?
6. In one sentence, how would you describe your vision for children’s science learning within the school?

Many thanks in advance,

Gabrielle