Course: Contemporary Biology for Curriculum Leaders

A course for those designing and influencing secondary biology curricula and resources

• 28th June – 1st July 2026, near York
• Funding and bursaries available
• Deadline for applications – 11pm Sunday 31st May

Download further information and application form

Do you influence biology teaching across a number of schools, through curricula, training, resourcing or textbooks? Are you currently planning the changes you might make in response to evolving UK science curricula?

If so, join Science and Plants for Schools on an immersive course that will support you to:

• Build confidence in supporting climate and sustainability themes in emerging national curricula, with plants as a key scientific context.
• Delve into the multiple benefits of plant-positive education, for careers, attainment and inspiring nature connection in students.
• Drive increased engagement with plant topics, tackling student disinterest and supporting cross-curricula linkage and synoptic thinking.
• Engage with cutting‑edge plant science, working directly with researchers to ensure curricula and resources reflect modern biology.
• Work alongside others with influence, sharing ideas, challenges and next steps for improving curricula and resources across schools.

Course outcomes:

You will:

• be inspired to integrate a range of organisms throughout biology curricula and resourcing, encouraging synoptic thinking in students, demonstrating how biology intersects with a broad range of subjects.
• have an array of inspirational, contemporary examples that will inspire students whilst supporting them to apply concepts, with access to resources from leading researchers.
• be equipped to discuss how plant science is integral to solving many of our global challenges, particularly considering the increased emphasis on climate and sustainability in new curricula.
• be able to confidently anticipate and tackle common misconceptions in plant science topics and address issues in teaching, curricula and resourcing that block students from appreciating plants as an integral part of biology that they see every day.
• boost your knowledge of biology careers, employers and opportunities, collecting examples to illustrate teaching and resourcing.
• gain an overview of SAPS’ research-informed training modules on teaching photosynthesis and refreshed knowledge of key school practical activities.
• belong to an ongoing community, supporting each other and your colleagues as plant-positive educators.

Funding

The cost of Contemporary Biology for Curriculum Leaders is subsidised by SAPS with bursaries available for teaching cover. Full details of funding are covered in the course information document and application form.

Throughout the course you will stay in accommodation close to the main summer school venue. If you have any questions around access needs please contact Jamie Biggs at saps@botanic.cam.ac.uk

Applications

There are a limited number of places available on this course. Please fill in the application form and send it to Jamie Biggs at saps@botanic.cam.ac.uk by 11pm on Sunday 31st May Please do also contact Jamie with any questions you have or to discuss the course further. We will endeavour to tell you if your application has been successful by Wednesday 3rd June.

Apply now

Running alongside the Gatsby Plant Science Summer School for undergraduate bioscience students, Contemporary Biology for Curriculum Leaders combines lectures on current research with practical workshops and discussion with working researchers.

Plant science lectures

Understanding the evolution of C4 photosynthesis to inform crop improvement – Prof Julian Hibberd, University of Cambridge
Plants are the solution for our sustainable future – Prof Gail Taylor, UCL
Feeding 10 billion: food security, nutrition, and sustainability – Prof Cristobal Uauy, John Innes Centre
Biological circuits: how plants make up their minds – Prof Katherine Denby, University of York

Researcher flash talks:

Understanding Plant Resilience: Insights from Agricultural Weeds – Dr Kimberley Simpson, University of Sheffield
Decoding Plant Gene Regulatory Networks with an AI Virtual Lab – Dr Haopeng Yu, John Innes Centre
More Than Just Fuel: How Grasses Architect Their Own Wildfires – Dr Dana MacGregor, Rothamsted Research

Practical workshops

Plant Pathology – Track pathogen infections with FERA scientists using PCR and identify common plant pathogens

Cell Biology – Use confocal microscopes to experience real-time cell processes visualised with fluorescent proteins

Plant Development – Explore how biomechanics determine how plants grow and respond to the environment and model mechanical properties

Plant ID – Experience a foolproof way to identify and plant to family level and practice your field ID skills