Huddersfield lecturers bring Sciences chapter to new Primary Education textbook

Two University of Huddersfield lecturers have lent their expertise to a new textbook that will help support primary teaching students develop their subject knowledge beyond literacy and numeracy.

The book, Developing Subject Knowledge Across the Primary Curriculum, is designed to support undergraduate students on primary teaching courses, such as those offered at Huddersfield.

These students have a significant breadth of subject knowledge to cover, and alongside a focus on literacy and numeracy, must develop subject knowledge across the curriculum.

Matt Borg, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, and Dr Marc Turu Porcel, Subject Leader in Initial Teacher Education, who both teach students on primary teaching courses, have contributed a chapter on the Sciences to the new book.

In it, a range of experts explore each subject, covering areas including Geography, History, and Languages, as well as Art and Design, Digital Technologies, Health and Wellbeing, Music and Physical Education.

The book is designed to offer both breadth and depth for deep subject knowledge learning and includes information on subject knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and the links between them.

Mr Borg commented: “Primary science can feel daunting, especially for those who didn't study it beyond GCSE. This chapter is about changing that. We want teachers to feel genuinely confident in the subject, not just equipped to get through a lesson. The knowledge matters, but so does knowing how to teach it well so all learners can access this important subject.”

Dr Turu Porcel, who is part of the University’s Huddersfield Centre for Research in Education and Society (HudCRES) added: “Science education in primary school matters enormously and so does teaching it well. What I love about this chapter is that it respects both the research and the reader. Whether you're just starting out or you've been in classrooms for years, it meets you where you are and gives you something real to take away.”

Part of the Primary Teaching Now series by Sage Publishing, the book is edited by Jen Aggleton of The Open University and is due to be published on 30 May.

Find out more about Primary Education at Huddersfield

The University of Huddersfield offers teacher training in Primary Education for those looking to become a primary school teacher. The courses are part of the School of Business, Education and Law, and are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, with around 200 students currently studying at undergraduate level.