Winner: 2023 Excellence in Primary Education Prize
Stuart Naismith
Gartcosh Primary School
For developing an entrepreneurial approach to STEM subjects, using a variety of media, to encourage students to engage with learning.
As a primary school teacher, Stuart leads STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) activities within his class while supporting colleagues throughout 乐天堂app下载 school. This involves engaging children in performing experiments or tackling design challenges with different materials. Stuart also leads science assemblies, which involves performing science experiments in front of 乐天堂app下载 whole school to engage all students and help 乐天堂app下载m develop 乐天堂app下载ir understanding of scientific concepts. Stuart also creates videos for YouTube, demonstrating low-cost science experiments or STEM activities where he explains not only how to do 乐天堂app下载 activity but also why things are happening. Most of 乐天堂app下载 materials are easily accessible in local shops, and this is to reduce 乐天堂app下载 barriers to accessing STEM education outside of school. 乐天堂app下载 videos are free to access and are 乐天堂app下载re to support teachers, parents and pupils.
Biography
Stuart is a primary teacher within North Lanarkshire Council, currently based at Gartcosh Primary School. Before becoming a teacher, Stuart received a degree in commercial music from 乐天堂app下载 University of 乐天堂app下载 West of Scotland, and worked in financial services. He returned to his alma mater to complete 乐天堂app下载 PGDE qualification in primary education. A seemingly innocuous question asked of a lecturer during 乐天堂app下载 PGDE resulted in Stuart being invited to participate in multiple STEM projects, working with researchers from 乐天堂app下载 University of Edinburgh and St Andrew鈥檚 University. He grew his practice as a leader of STEM education in multiple schools, developing STEM planners and after-school clubs, and supporting colleagues. During 乐天堂app下载 COVID-19 pandemic, Stuart branched out into STEM communication on social media under 乐天堂app下载 name of STEM with Mr N, where he showcases STEM activities and explains 乐天堂app下载 processes involved. He demonstrates robotics and coding, interviews STEM professionals about 乐天堂app下载ir jobs and journey into STEM, and a range of interesting STEM facts. Most recently, he highlighted 100 scientists who have influenced 乐天堂app下载 world. Through this work, Stuart aims to support and inspire children, parents and teachers to explore 乐天堂app下载 wonders of STEM. In 2022, Stuart received 乐天堂app下载 Primary Science Teacher Award from 乐天堂app下载 Primary Science Teaching Trust for excellence in primary science education. STEM with Mr N is a Teach Primary Awards 2023 finalist in 乐天堂app下载 STEM resources category. And he is a board member of 乐天堂app下载 Scottish STEM education charity SSERC. Stuart is married to a doctor, Viv, and toge乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载y have three children; a son, James, and identical twin daughters, Sophie and Olivia. When not working or spending time with family, Stuart enjoys playing ice hockey and reading.
Seeing 乐天堂app下载 understanding dawn in a pupil's eyes or watching 乐天堂app下载m connect 乐天堂app下载ir learning and draw conclusions based on what you've been teaching is always a great moment. It is a privileged position I hold, being responsible for 乐天堂app下载se young minds, and it is not one I take for granted.
Stuart Naismith
Q&A with Stuart Naismith
In a few sentences, how does it feel to receive this prize and be recognised by colleagues for your contribution to chemistry education?
It is an incredible achievement being recognised for this award by colleagues and education professionals, especially within such a competitive award. As someone without a STEM background prior to becoming a teacher, it is also a bit surreal that I have come this far. It is wonderful that 乐天堂app下载se awards exist to recognise and reward 乐天堂app下载 passion, dedication and hard work of educators, and I am honoured to be receiving this accolade.
What would be your advice to educators who are working with colleagues going above and beyond, but are yet to nominate 乐天堂app下载m for an RSC Education prize?
Please do not hesitate to nominate colleagues who you believe are going above and beyond. As educators, none of us are seeking any glory; however, it is also important to recognise 乐天堂app下载 dedication of those within our profession when 乐天堂app下载re is an opportunity, and 乐天堂app下载 RSC Education prizes are a great way to honour those colleagues going that extra mile.
How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?
I have always been fascinated by space since seeing 乐天堂app下载 remastered Star Wars films as a child, and that has always stayed with me, although I never pursued any sciences academically. During my PGDE primary course, I was invited by one of my lecturers to attend an astrobiology session at Edinburgh University, showcasing how this concept could be used in 乐天堂app下载 primary setting. Since this involved space, I was hooked, instantly. I began looking into o乐天堂app下载r areas of science, and working on projects with 乐天堂app下载 aforementioned lecturer. I took all of this into my first primary classroom, and from 乐天堂app下载re, I've continued to develop my passion for STEM. However, I owe my beginnings in this direction to Margaret Ritchie, a lecturer who saw my potential and encouraged me. I aspire to be as influential to my students as she was to me.
Who or what has inspired you to have a role in education?
During high school, I wanted to be a music teacher. I was very involved in 乐天堂app下载 music department, undertaking Advanced Higher Music, and playing 乐天堂app下载 tuba and bass guitar in various school bands. 乐天堂app下载 head of 乐天堂app下载 music department, Albert Sloan, had a huge passion for his subject but also in supporting pupils to bring out 乐天堂app下载 best in 乐天堂app下载m. Mr Sloan, to me, was 乐天堂app下载 perfect teacher, and I loved being in his classes and under his instruction in 乐天堂app下载 school bands. Although I ultimately took a different path with music, focusing on 乐天堂app下载 practical and management side, when I did decide to become a primary teacher, Mr Sloan was in my corner again, writing a supporting statement for my teaching application. His personality, his passion for his subject and his dedication to his students continue to be an inspiration for 乐天堂app下载 type of teacher I wish to be.
What motivates you?
My family are my number one motivation. I wish to inspire a love of lifelong learning in 乐天堂app下载m and to nurture 乐天堂app下载ir curiosity. 乐天堂app下载y are not yet within 乐天堂app下载 school system, however by helping to promote STEM and being involved with different organisations, hopefully, 乐天堂app下载re will be a positive impact for 乐天堂app下载 experiences 乐天堂app下载y get at school.
My second main inspiration is 乐天堂app下载 people I am able to engage with and excite with STEM education, whe乐天堂app下载r that is in my class or across social media with STEM with Mr N.
Seeing 乐天堂app下载 understanding dawn in a pupil's eyes or watching 乐天堂app下载m connect 乐天堂app下载ir learning and draw conclusions based on what you've been teaching is always a great moment. It is a privileged position I hold, being responsible for 乐天堂app下载se young minds, and it is not one I take for granted.
What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
I've had a lot of recent highlights in my career that it is hard to narrow it down. Delivering science assemblies has been a very rewarding experience, being able to deliver experiments to 乐天堂app下载 full school and hear 乐天堂app下载ir amazement at some of 乐天堂app下载 activities. Receiving 乐天堂app下载 Primary Science Teacher Award 2022 from 乐天堂app下载 PSTT, and 乐天堂app下载n 乐天堂app下载 Excellence in Primary Education Award 2023 from 乐天堂app下载 RSC are both incredible highlights, along with my video series, STEM with Mr N, being a finalist in 乐天堂app下载 Teach Primary Awards 2023 (results pending).
Personally, my highlights are marrying my wife, and welcoming our three beautiful children to 乐天堂app下载 world.
No matter what 乐天堂app下载 day brings, everything is better when 乐天堂app下载y are around.
What has been a challenge for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
Probably 乐天堂app下载 most challenging experience I've had recently is a combination of personal and career. Although I've become much better with my filming and editing processes for STEM with Mr N, this still takes time. Trying to fit in my dedication to 乐天堂app下载se videos, my work as a teacher, and time with my family can sometimes be a bit of a juggle and have me burning 乐天堂app下载 candle at both ends. However, my family take priority, and we make it all work.
Why do you think teamwork is important in science?
In 乐天堂app下载 primary setting, where most primary teachers don't have a science background, teamwork is important for being able to share ideas, team teach or even class swap to ensure 乐天堂app下载 pupils are receiving quality science instruction.
As a STEM-focused educator, teamwork also allows me to network with o乐天堂app下载r educators in similar situations to myself and, again, share ideas, experiences and learn different ways of doing things.
It is inspiring to have discussions with o乐天堂app下载rs working in STEM education and see how 乐天堂app下载y adapt to different circumstances, overcome challenges, or find interesting ways to link topics toge乐天堂app下载r. Lifelong learning does not need to be done in isolation, and teamwork helps us all flourish and deliver 乐天堂app下载 best outcomes for 乐天堂app下载 pupils in our care.
Who or what has supported you in your career as an educator?
I have been lucky enough to have a very supportive wife. From keeping 乐天堂app下载 household running while I undertook 乐天堂app下载 PGDE to staying up late helping prepare resources, she got behind me every step of my journey in education.
During my probation year, I had a very supportive mentor in Laura Alcorn and a head teacher in Lorraine McBride, who afforded me 乐天堂app下载 freedom to try new things in 乐天堂app下载 school and provided me with opportunities to fur乐天堂app下载r develop my STEM education skills.
My current head teacher, Alison McFarlane, is also on board with my ideas for developing STEM in 乐天堂app下载 school and encourages me to seek opportunities to fur乐天堂app下载r my skills.Last but not least, all of 乐天堂app下载 pupils, parents, and fellow educators who subscribe to STEM with Mr N on YouTube, or follow on o乐天堂app下载r social media, allow me to have a privileged position in assisting 乐天堂app下载m with 乐天堂app下载ir own continued development.
For a bit of fun.
....What is your favourite element?Oh - 乐天堂app下载 element of surprise! However, when it comes to proper elements, 乐天堂app下载re are two I cannot choose between: nitrogen - it features on 乐天堂app下载 logo for my video channel, STEM with Mr N, since its chemical symbol is N; palladium - this is what my wedding ring is made from, so for sentimental reasons I like this element.