ISTA National CPD Programme – AACs & Health & Safety
The ISTA is pleased to inform you that our National CPD programme of events for ISTA members will continue on Weds 29th January at 7 p.m. Our National CPD events are open to all ISTA members.
The ISTA National CPD programme is sponsored by Lennox Laboratory Supplies. We wish to express our sincere thanks to Lennox for their loyal support of ISTA down through the years. The details of the next online National CPD event are as follows:
Title: Health and Safety implications in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Practice Investigations that are part of the new Leaving Certificate curriculum specifications to be introduced in September 2025.
Date: 29th January 2025
Time: 7 p.m.
Presenter: Matt Endean, Deputy Director, CLEAPSS, UK.
As you are aware, in September 2025 we will be teaching the new curriculum specifications in Leaving Certificate Biology, Chemistry and Physics. An allocation of 40% of the marks will be allocated to the Additional Assessment component, i.e. the research investigation in which students have to display “evidence of their ability to conduct scientific research on a particular issue and to use appropriate primary data to investigate aspects of that issue” (p.2 NCCA Guidelines on the Biology, Chemistry and Physics In Practice Investigations).
It is clear that Health and Safety issues will play a major part in the implementation of the Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Practice Investigations. The ISTA is very fortunate to have the expertise of Mr Matt Endean, Deputy Director of CLEAPSS to advise us. CLEAPSS is an internationally recognised organisation with expertise on Health and Safety and, since its foundation in 1965, CLEAPSS staff have developed a wealth of experience devising and evaluating laboratory practical activities for science teachers. CLEAPSS is a major provider of CPD courses for science teachers and organises over 200 one-day CPD courses each year for teachers. Further details about CLEAPSS may be found at https://science.cleapss.org.uk/Resource/A-guide-to-What-is-CLEAPSS.pdf
Mr Matt Endean, Deputy Director, CLEAPSS, has kindly agreed to provide this online CPD event for ISTA members. Matt is a good friend of the ISTA and you may recall that in 2020 he provided CPD to ISTA members on carrying out laboratory practical work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Matt has been sent the three NCCA Guidelines on the Biology, Chemistry and Physics In Practice Investigations and we look forward to hearing his advice to us on key Health and Safety issues re the implementation of these research investigations in our schools.
The ISTA wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Matt for sharing his expertise with us on this topic.
This webinar will be hosted by Aodhagán Ó Suilleabháin. To facilitate ISTA members who may be unable to attend, the CPD will be recorded and placed on the members only section of the ISTA website.
The link to register in advance for this webinar is given below:
Please make sure you correctly enter your email address when registering to avoid disappointment.
After registering and your ISTA membership is confirmed, you will receive a confirmation email on the day of the webinar containing information with the link to enable you to join the webinar. Please use the link on only one device and please not to share the link as it is unique to you. Duplicate uses of the same link are automatically removed from the meeting.
If you have any questions about registering for the event, please contact Aodhagán (aodhagan@ista.ie) as he is the expert in this area. Aodhagán has asked me to bring the following points to your attention:
- Please make sure that your ISTA membership is up to date, as membership will be checked before registrations are approved.
- Please note that registration for this event will close at 5 p.m. on the day of the webinar to allow time for the list of participants to be finalised.
- Please make sure that you enter your email address correctly when registering (otherwise you will not receive the link) and please remember which email address you registered with when looking for the link on Wednesday.
Within a few days after the webinar, an email will be automatically sent to all those who attended the webinar. This email may be used as a Certificate of Attendance for those who require it.
The ISTA wishes to express our sincere thanks to Aodhagán Ó Suilleabháin and Sean Finn for setting up the zoom link, processing all the applications and hosting the webinar.
Thank you for your continued support of ISTA.
