Audrey Randall

We were sad to hear of the death in

July of Audrey Randall, a passionate
supporter of the Association and a hugely
significant figure in the history of primary
science education.
Peter Borrows, a colleague and Chair of Home
Counties region, writes:
I first met Audrey when I was a science
adviser in the late 1980s. She was a
regular speaker on the courses for
primary teachers that we ran jointly with
neighbouring authorities. Audrey was
very popular with the teachers, who
recognised within her a fellow
professional, with a genuine love for
children and a real understanding of
what primary science should be about.
She promoted opportunities for children
to explore or investigate their own
questions and further their own
intellectual development.
I will never forget her story about a
phone call from a person with a very
posh voice (suitably mimicked!), claiming
to have been commanded by the Minister
to invite her to join the working party
tasked to produce the original national
curriculum for science. She was
wondering which of her friends was
playing a practical joke and replied, Id
better just check my diary. The caller was
astounded that anyone should show any
sign of hesitation, but Audrey was given
one hour. Two cups of tea later, she
agreed and the National Curriculum had
the benefit of her wisdom and experience.
Audrey was a nursery and infant teacher,
soon Headteacher, and worked with the
County Science Adviser in Hertfordshire
on in-service courses for primary and
secondary teachers. Her school was an
experimental playground! She served on
the ASE Primary Science Committee and
was made an Honorary Member in 1996.
Until her death, she remained an active
member of the Hertfordshire section.
Many are the section committee
meetings that were reduced to helpless
laughter by the stories she told,
accompanied by her own infectious
laugh. For many years, she contributed
to and then edited Primary Science, ASEs
first publication for primary teachers. It
comprised a folded A3 sheet filled with
examples of childrens work, a wonderful
inspiration for other teachers. Only later
did ASE introduce a more substantial
journal, Primary Science Review (now
renamed as Primary Science) and, for
many years, both were sent out together.
After retirement, she committed
much of her time to wildlife, both in the
practical sense of animal rescue and also
serving on various committees. Her e-
mail address, akrbadbat@.., indicates
both her wicked sense of humour and
her enthusiasm for bats and badgers.
She hosted Hertfordshire section
barbecues in her garden, with
opportunities for viewing baby badgers
and going on bat walks.
Characteristically, her funeral was a
humanist one held in a church. It was
packed out, with 50 or more people
standing at the back, reflecting the real
warmth and affection in which she was
held. She was an inspiration to us all.
Support ASEs Anniversary Appeal
The ASE Appeal, launched on the eve
of our 50th Anniversary, invites
supporters to help us redouble our
efforts to influence science education.
Please visit the panel on the ASE
website Home Page to find out how
to Click here to donate.
Quick ways to connect with ASE
Social media offers plenty of ways to
connect with ASE and join in science
education conversations online.
ASE now has more than 2,000
followers on Twitter. @theASE hit the
2,000 mark in June 2012, attracting
followers in all sectors of education,
from trainee teachers to technicians.
Following @theASE on Twitter is a
quick and handy way to keep up with
news from the Association and find
others interested in science education.
You can also connect with ASE by joining
the Association for Science Education
group on Facebook. Look up The
Association for Science Education under
companies to connect on LinkedIn and
find others with whom to share your
interests and ideas!
Instant access to ASE primary
resources at a discount the
new e-membership option for
primary schools
As an ASE member you will be aware
of the benefits of ASE membership and
know a lot about what ASE is doing.
But we dont stand still new initiatives,
ideas and resources are frequently
introduced to provide more support and
opportunities to our members. If you
have not done so recently, why not visit
the ASE website and check out how
much is going on?
Our newest membership initiative is
the introduction of an e-membership
for primary schools. This recognises that
primary teachers like a lot of what ASE
offers but would prefer a more
comprehensive and useful package of
resources to support their teaching,
which is easily accessible (i.e. online
and all in one place) and, in these cash-
strapped times, is also more affordable.
So the new e-membership bundles
together:
4 E2%

%.9<.6+.: 2012
5 E2%

%.9<.6+.: 2012
Online issues of our acclaimed
Primary Science journal, five p.a.
Online issues of our topical house
magazine Education in Science, four p.a.
The up-to-date news-based resources
of primary upd8 (www.ase.org.uk/
resources/primary-upd8)
Online access to a new early-years
focused Journal of Emergent Science,
two p.a.
Plus all the other existing primary
school benefits everything except the
printed journals.
The whole package is designed to
better meet the needs of primary
teachers and is available at the
introductory price of 77 plus VAT
a considerable saving on the existing
primary school membership.
Being a member of ASE will also
allow schools to work towards the
Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM);
see www.ase.org.uk/professional-
development/primary-science-quality-
mark-psqm, which is now gaining
momentum as it is rolled out nationwide.
We are also planning a new area on the
ASE website to support all the categories
of primary membership dedicated to
primary resources, it will be produced by
primary teachers for primary teachers
and will be available soon after the start
of the academic year, evolving as the year
goes on. This will, of course, be available
to new primary school e-members.
So, to find out more about getting
all you need as a professional teacher of
primary science, either as an individual or
on behalf of your school, please visit
www.ase.org.uk/about-ase/primary-science
Existing primary school members
who wish to transfer to the new
e-membership may do so when their
current membership comes up for
renewal.
Farewellalmostto Andrew Rankin
At the end of July, we said farewell to
Andrew Rankin in his role as Field Officer
for the South of England. Andrew has
been active in ASE for many years since
he joined as a PGCE student and, after a
long and successful career in teaching,
devoted even more of his time to serving
ASE, as a Field Officer and as the Annual
Conference Honorary Meetings Secretary.
He was a Field Officer for five years and
developed excellent links in the South of
England. He was a major contributor to
and Editor of the Points South Newsletter
and, along with the region committees
and other Field Officers, was a key player
in the planning and delivery of the
annual South East Area Conference and
contributed to many other region events.
We shall miss Andrews knowledge,
humour and enthusiasm and wish him
well for the future as he spends more
time with his family and plans even more
global travel.
However, it will not be a complete
goodbye to Andrew as he is still the
Honorary Meetings Secretary for the
next Annual Conference in Reading,
before he hands over to Susie Burr.
He also plans to stay active in
his region and support ASE where
he can.
CSciTeach, RSci and RSciTech:
Why do I need to become registered?
Registrar, John Lawrence, says:
Ultimately, it is a personal decision, but being registered
denotes a professional standing that a degree alone
cannot confer. You are a professional scientist, signed up
to a code of conduct and committed to maintaining your
CPD during your professional career.
At the time of writing, 185 members have been awarded
Chartered Science Teacher status, with an additional 37
members achieving Registered Scientist and 28 Registered
Technician status. ASE congratulates everyone who is
taking up this exciting opportunity to further their career
in science teaching.
Awarded on
13th July 2012
RSci
Colin Oates
John Davison
Georgina Motterham
David Wicks
James Snook
Rebecca Walsh
Nial Pickering
Stewart McKane
Abigail Allsopp
Michael Busfield
Heather Milton
Toby Payne
Damien Rowe
Dawn Pirie
Tim Browett
Kelly Dockerty
Jane Scragg
Stuart Turner
David Mulae
Vikash Sharma
John Mark
Alexander
Julian Mills
Matthew Shaw
Dean Jenkins
Lucy Rand
Jill Disley
Marc Gillingwater
Rajgopaul Govender
Emma Alison
Wilson-Downes
Yvonne James
Jonathan Board
RSciTech
Simon Blackwood
Lorna Barnard
Victoria Foster
Ken Carley
Esther Cumming
Janet Keir
Pauline Lloyd
Nicola van
der Merwe
Gillian Melling
Fiona Roberts
Geoffrey Lomax
Rachel Chilton
Anja Armstrong
Elizabeth Shaw
Greg Davidson
Anne Helliar
CSciTeach
Gavin Gray
Marie Bootman
Garvin Doherty
Nicholas Rowdene
Kate Cree
Carol Davenport
Leyla Di-Bellonia
Jodie Stuart
Joanna Christopher
Andrew Markwick
Christopher Patrick
Cassidy
Awarded on
25th July 2012
RSciTech
Ruth Hawkins
Stephanie Sellings
RSci
Paula Bree-Grice
Artemis Diana Patel
Carl Lander
Denise Marsden