Royal Agricultural University launches brand-new CPD course for FE teachers in science education

29 May 2025

Royal Agricultural University launches brand-new CPD course for FE teachers in science education

A dynamic one-day continued professional development (CPD) course for Further Education staff delivering science and technical subjects, including animal care, agriculture and environmental science, has been launched by the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).

The new course - Innovative Science Teaching: Practical Skills and Inclusive Strategies for FE Staff – has been designed specifically for teachers who want to enhance their practical teaching skills, with the learning outcomes for the course aligning with key gaps frequently identified in FE College Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and Ofsted reports.

As part of the course, which will be delivered by RAU academics and members of the Professional Services’ team at the University’s Cirencester campus, FE teachers will learn how to:

  • develop high-impact practical science lessons, whether a hands-on dissection, microscopy session, or lab-based investigation
  • embed industry applications into science teaching, making practical lessons relevant to careers in science, agriculture and animal care 
  • create an inclusive science education teaching environment, including strategies to support diverse learners, neurodivergent students, and underrepresented groups in science education 

Organiser Scarlett Crew, CPD Manager at the RAU, said: “As a national leader in land-based education for more than 180 years - and with over half of our research assessed as ‘world-leading or internationally excellent’ in our last REF rating, and recently receiving a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) - we are proud to share our expertise.”

The first course will take place on Tuesday 8th July 2025 and teachers are encouraged to book by visiting the RAU’s dedicated course webpage at https://www.rau.ac.uk/for-business/cpd/innovative-science-teaching-for-fe.