I'm Amanda Childs, founder of Sparking STEM, teacher since 2010, Home ed teacher since 2017, former biological researcher, SEND parent, nature lover..
This is why I have built the "Inspire To Learn IGCSE Biology Hub"...
This is why I have built the "Inspire To Learn IGCSE Biology Hub"...
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Hi, I’m Amanda. I’ve been teaching IGCSE Biology to home-educated students since 2017 and teaching Biology since I qualified as a Science teacher in 2010. I have a BSc in Zoology, an MSc in Applied Entomology and have worked in biological research as an earthworm ecotoxicologist and equine welfare researcher all over the world.
My menagerie of weird and wonderful animals helps me bring my teaching to life, and I love to teach Biology with real things and interactive demonstrations. Find out more and join the hub |
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The dream of building this hub has been growing all that time...
So often, people feel they have to compromise between the expansive, creative and inspirational thinking that real biology involves, and the box-ticking, closed, rote memorisation systems our exam framework promotes. I've seen my students light up when they realise they can have both. When taught through inspiration, the language becomes a tool instead of a barrier. The beautiful, real-world connections in Biology help students to deeply understand biological processes. They can work out exam answers from basic principles, and more easily gain the exam marks available for spotting the links between topics. Taught alongside clear exam techniques and tools, they learn to frame their knowledge to get the marks, without losing the love of the subject. Most importantly, they see the purpose of learning biology. They understand how it connects to real life, explains their bodies and their world, and helps them make sense of their place on the planet. Find out more and join the hub |
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I’ve completely restructured the IGCSE Biology content into Topic Pods that teach all the content through the biological processes that connect them.
I’ve built a library of “Biology Is Everywhere” videos that showcase biology in the real world (picture me digging up potatoes in the compost heap to show how plants store starch and delving in a pond to show duckweed adaptations…) and there's so much more in the hub... 
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Everything is exam focused but based in inspiration. Live weekly tuition (and recordings) are packed with demonstrations and investigations that bring the subjects to life. Students can join in with demonstrations if they wish. I teach with real things (often alive!), active demonstrations and barely a slideshow in sight!
There's a continuous focus on key words and concepts, linking to mark schemes and exam techniques, whilst explaining the biology and building layers of deep knowledge and understanding. Find out more and join the hub |
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Practical Skills videos show the recommended practicals and other useful technical skills, Exam Skills videos demonstrate exam techniques and how to use mark schemes,
Maths Skills videos walk students through the challenges of mathematical exam questions All videos continuously show the key words, concepts, phrases and learning points that are most likely to get exam marks, at the side of the video, as well as relevant specification sections. A Community forum allows students to share, learn, inspire and check in with me in a safe, moderated, online environment. Find out more and join the hub |
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Kindness first, always.
In all the different ways I teach, I work by inspiring children to love the subject and to want to learn more. I'm a SEND parent, and seeing my neurodivergent child struggle with anxiety from pressure-based systems led me to develop a teaching approach built on kindness, choices, and zero pressure. Children join in however suits them best. I never push, pressure or put a child 'on the spot'. I don't use countdowns, timers, random questioning, or ask children to perform or speak out (though they can if they want to). I offer them choices, opportunities and inspiration and allow them to access learning however suits them best. Key words, phrases and terms are given clearly throughout, both visually and verbally. |
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The hub will be available to join from 7th April!
What do people say about learning with Amanda?
Credentials
✅ Qualified Teacher Status (QTS: PGCE Science 2010)
✅ GCSE teaching experience since 2010 (AQA), IGCSE (Edexcel and Cambridge) since 2018
✅ Nearly a decade working closely with the home-educating community.
✅ Postgraduate level Science: MSc.
✅ Certified in "Autism Awareness in Education"
✅ Certified in "PDA for Educators" (PDA Society)
✅ Certified in "ADHD Awareness" (TES)
✅ Certified in "Working with children with disabilities and learning difficulties"
✅ Safeguarding certified (Level 3 DSL)
✅ Diverse experience teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
✅ Nine years of experience working in biological research
✅ Comprehensive public liability insurance
✅ Paediatric first aid qualification (OFQAL certified Level 3)
✅ Enhanced DBS
✅ Qualified Teacher Status (QTS: PGCE Science 2010)
✅ GCSE teaching experience since 2010 (AQA), IGCSE (Edexcel and Cambridge) since 2018
✅ Nearly a decade working closely with the home-educating community.
✅ Postgraduate level Science: MSc.
✅ Certified in "Autism Awareness in Education"
✅ Certified in "PDA for Educators" (PDA Society)
✅ Certified in "ADHD Awareness" (TES)
✅ Certified in "Working with children with disabilities and learning difficulties"
✅ Safeguarding certified (Level 3 DSL)
✅ Diverse experience teaching children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
✅ Nine years of experience working in biological research
✅ Comprehensive public liability insurance
✅ Paediatric first aid qualification (OFQAL certified Level 3)
✅ Enhanced DBS
The hub will be available to join from 7th April!
