Chemistry for science teachers | Live online courses

Boost your confidence in delivering practical work, and develop the skills you need to teach key chemistry topics to 11–16 year olds.

This course is designed for teachers looking to build their knowledge and confidence in teaching chemistry. The course is comprised of three optional modules, covering teaching strategies for different topic areas.

Compare modules

At a glance

Upcoming dates:
Various, Jan–May 2025, 3.45–5.30pm
Cost: Free for Teach Chemistry members
Session frequency: Weekly or monthly

Choose a module to get started

Top of test tubes containing liquid with pipette releasing a drop of liquid into one

Module 1

Upcoming dates

Thursdays, Jan–May 2025
3.45–5.30pm

Topics covered

Supporting good practical chemistry
Reactivity of metals
Electrolysis
Quantitative chemistry

Find out more

Close up look at test tubes containing a variety of colourful liquids in a beaker and on a busy lab bench

Module 2

Upcoming dates

Not currently available – get notified when new dates are added

Topics covered

Identifying unknowns
Equilibrium
Energy changes
Rates of reaction

Find out more

Pipette and test tubes

Module 3

Upcoming dates

Wednesdays, Jan–Apr 2025
3.45–5.30pm

Topics covered

Structure and bonding
Hydrocarbons
Acids and bases
Further quantitative chemistry

Find out more

Top of test tubes containing liquid with pipette releasing a drop of liquid into one

Module 1

Module 1 covers the following topics:

Supporting good practical chemistry
Reactivity of metals
Electrolysis
Quantitative chemistry

You’ll build your subject knowledge across these topics, explore common misconceptions and develop ideas for practical activities.

Upcoming dates and registration

Module 1 – spring term

Thursdays, January–May 2025, 3.45–5.30pm, online

You’ll need to be a member of Teach Chemistry to register for this course. Sign in now or register for an account today to get started.

Session 1: Thursday 30 January 3.45–5.30pm

Supporting good practical chemistry

Particle theory of matter
Ideas for practical work
The meaning of hazard, harm and risk
Process and recording of risk assessments

Session 2: Thursday 27 February 3.45–5.30pm

Reactivity of metals

Reactivity series of metals
Ideas for practical activities
Student misconceptions

Session 3: Thursday 27 March 3.45–5.30pm

Electrolysis

Electrolysis
Student misconceptions
Ideas for practical work
RSC resources, including practical videos

Session 4: Thursday 1 May 3.45–5.30pm

Quantitative chemistry

Session topics:

Quantitative chemistry and the mole
Chemistry calculations
Linking practical work to calculations

Close up look at test tubes containing a variety of colourful liquids in a beaker and on a busy lab bench

Module 2

Module 2 covers the following topics:

Identifying unknowns
Equilibrium
Energy changes
Rates of reaction

You’ll build your subject knowledge across these topics, explore common misconceptions and develop ideas for practical activities.

Upcoming dates and registration

Module 2 is not due to run in the spring term

However, you can still:

Sign up to hear about new dates when they become available
Check out and register for module 1 or module 3

A photograph of a pipette held above test tubes in a metal test tube rack, containing different concentrations of an orange solution

Module 3

Module 3 covers the following topics:

Structure and bonding
Hydrocarbons
Acids and bases
Further quantitative chemistry

You’ll build your subject knowledge across these topics, explore common misconceptions and develop ideas for practical activities.

Upcoming dates and registration

Module 3 – spring term

Thursdays, January–April 2025, 3.45–5.30pm, online

You’ll need to be a member of Teach Chemistry to register for this course. Sign in now or register for an account today to get started.

Session 1: Wednesday 29 January 3.45–5.30pm

Structure and bonding

A range of different types of bonding and structures
Strategies and teaching models including electrostatics and the ‘octet rule’
Common misconceptions and challenges
Practical activities to develop understanding

Session 2: Wednesday 26 February 3.45–5.30pm

Hydrocarbons

Properties, processes and reactions related to hydrocarbons
Resources to help provide global perspectives in the curriculum
Everyday contexts for teaching hydrocarbons
Practical activities to develop understanding

Session 3: Wednesday 26 March 3.45–5.30pm

Acids and bases

The spiral curriculum and different teaching models
Global perspectives in the curriculum
Common misconceptions and challenges
Visually stimulating experiments and demonstrations

Session 4: Wednesday 30 April 3.45–5.30pm

Further quantitative chemistry

Pedagogical approaches to multi-step mole calculations
Practical approaches to teaching and understanding titrations
Common misconceptions and challenges

Additional information

This course is most suited to teachers who may be:

relatively new in post
teaching chemistry outside their own subject specialism
keen to increase their own understanding and confidence to teach chemistry within a 11–16 secondary science programme

Each module comprises a series of four sessions, held weekly or monthly, depending on the term. By completing all four, you will qualify for a certificate of attendance to add to your professional development portfolio/record.

In advance of the module, we will give you information on 1–2 practicals, which we will ask you to carry out prior to the relevant session, ready to discuss with your facilitator and fellow participants.

Support from your subject or school leadership team is a critical factor in successful professional development. When you sign up for a module, we’ll ask you to provide details of a senior member of staff who is responsible for your professional development provisions, eg head of chemistry/department, assistant headteacher, headteacher etc.

Teacher demonstrating a practical to a group of students wearing safety goggles

FAQs

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for teachers in all career stages. The course expects a basic level of subject knowledge and are ideally suited if you are new to teaching chemistry; you have recently focused on another subject and would like to boost your knowledge; or you are returning from a teaching break.

The course is not suitable for trainee/student teachers in the first two terms of their training year.

Do I have to complete all modules?

You do not have to complete one module to attend another. Each module covers teaching strategies for different topic areas. Please choose the module that includes the topics most relevant for you.

How much does the course cost?

Nothing at all! The course is free to join, although places are limited. (If the course wasn’t fully funded it would cost £250!)

Is this course recognised? Will I receive a certificate?

Absolutely. The course is recognised CPD, so you will receive a certificate of attendance for your professional development portfolio/record once you have completed all of your chosen course’s sessions.

To qualify for the certificate of attendance, you must attend all sessions and complete all required tasks.

Do you record the sessions?

No, course modules are not recorded. If you are not available for the course dates currently advertised, watch this space – most courses are run regularly.