Table 4: An interview with a Primary School science coordinator
Sample interview questions for the Principal and/or
science coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the
setting.
Is there a science coordinator and/or how many
specified science teachers are there in the school?
1 -One science coordinator teacher (Ms. Alisja).
 What are the duties/responsibilities of the science
teacher/coordinator?
 Does she teach any, all students or just specific year
groups?
 Obtain a teaching schedule and any schemes of work,
lesson plans, software used etc. from the science
coordinator/teacher.
2 Who is responsible for science policy and provision
within the setting?
(Can we obtain a copy of the policy?)
3 Online/Blended Learning:
 Does the setting have its own website? If so, what is
the URL, who created it and who is responsible for
managing and updating it?
 Is there any online/blended learning taking place
related to science? If so, how is this delivered?
 What ICT resources are used specifically for teaching
science?
4 What science equipment/manipulatives/resources can
be found the setting? (Is there a list? Differentiate between the
classroom; the science lab and other areas in the setting e.g. library)
Responses from the Principal and/or science
coordinator/teacher re: science provision in the
setting.
As well as six other coordinators that help
with science planning.
-They have science schedule. They fare
following this schedule. Hours and subject
related.
-
-There is a provisional development team for
science coordinating at the school. Ms. Alisja
is the in-charge of the policy. With idle
schools teacher support.
-The school don’t have an online website.
They have give personal information by a
weekly basis. Which is on the school website(
www.ais.ae). If students do project they
coordinate with parents through it.
-The ICT resources mostly learned centered
and they don’t use a particular resources.
Impalement the technological process
integrated with the science. But in most
cases, they use apps. Such as kahoot.
-The school have a science Paget which
provide the opportunity to buy resources for
students according to the curriculum and
unit They have weekly professional
  Is there a budget for materials?
 Who trains teachers and staff in the use the
equipment?
 Who manages the equipment and materials?
5 Is/Are there dedicated science labs in this setting?
 If yes, how is it used and by whom? How is it
organised? What equipment can be found here?
 If no, why not? e.g. lack of funds? No need? Enough
science equipment and expertise in each classroom?
 Does the setting feel it has enough specialist science
teachers, technicians and dedicated science rooms?
6 Which science resources does the setting feel it needs or
would like to have to achieve its vision or better science
teaching and learning?
 e.g. Science Kits, books, wifi, manipulatives/models,
digital cameras/camcorders, lab equipment OR soft
materials (consumables- colored paper, glue, popsicle
sticks etc.).
7 What are the safety rules?
 Are the safety rules posted in the science setting?
 Who developed these and are they
mandatory/enforced?
8 What safety equipment is available and when is it used
commonly?
 Is safety equipment available for all students in the
classrooms?
 Is equipment cleaned, if so by whom? Who manages
this duty?
development session. Ms. Alisja is the one
who manage materials and equipment’s and
she asks other teacher to give her a list about
materials needed. She put everything in a
box because there is no lap for grade four.
-They have two laps available for all students.
To experience the lap. Students don’t need
to use the lap. Teachers use activities that
supported students learning which make
students don’t need to use the lap. The
school make the opportunity for middle
school to use the lap.
-Ms. Alisja believes that It will be good to
have a lap for all students to experience it,
where they can explore.
-They have safety rules. Teacher give clear
instructions about safety and try to make the
class safe, by not using some danger
equipment’s or materials.
-They don’t have a lap, but if the students
will work with dangerous materials such as
candle, knife or glue gone. If students get
injured they will take him to the nurse. They
don’t work with harmful materials. And for
the lap they have gloves, fire screens, lap
coats, and other materials that make
students safe.
9 Planning for learning- how are the science lessons
planned for in the setting?
 Does the MOE/Zone/KHDA provide unit plans/lesson
plans? (can we obtain a copy of this?)
 Are there weekly planning meetings? What is usually
done in the planning meetings?
 Who attends the planning meetings?
 Does the school have specific goals related to science
(TIMMS scores etc.)?
10 How is learning assessed in the science classroom?
 Is there an assessment plan for the semester? What
does it include?
 Do teachers collect student data? What data, when,
and what is it used for?
 How do students get feedback so that they can make
improvements?
11 What science professional development / training do
teachers currently receive or have recently had?
 How frequently and from whom did they /are they
receiving this?
 Do they have a document that outlines this PD?
 What PD do they think teachers in the setting still
need?
-They do their weekly planning, and alos,
they follow their curriculum, quezland
curriculum. They have a clear guideline about
what teachers need to teach and which area.
They also have a guideline for a planning. All
teachers meet together plan, share ideas,
and have discussion about what to be taught
in the unit.
-The school is improving their goals, by
reflecting on the previous year. They want to
include more STEM, hands on activities, and
give the opportunity for higher students to
extend themselves.
-The school assess students through different
assessments. Such as formative assessment
which is ongoing. The school is recoding data.
Then reflect on data to identify which area
needs improvement. They also have a
schedule for summative assessments dates.
Students will have either research project or
a test. Students take feedback through
engage program. The school send
assessment lesson with grades for parents.
They will also give results verbally or written.
-The teachers either get e-mail from various
schools that invite them for professional
development on certain areas. They also
have learning program on science literacy. To
discuss about how to make students improve
their aside literacy and also think on a ICT
that can support this. And they have
professional development every Monday.