Science GCSE has our future in its hands
Admin 13/01/2010 at 13:44pm
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Last week, Professor Sir John Holman, Director at the National Science Learning Centre wrote an article for the TES on science GCSE and the future of the UK.
In the article, Sir John comments on the bad press that British science education receives on a frequent basis and the need to take an objective look at science education in the UK and put this all in to perspective:
"British science is world class. We have just 1 per cent of the world's population, but produce 12 per cent of the citations in scientific research publications. The 2009 Nobel Prizes for chemistry, physics and medicine all included scientists who were educated in, or worked in, Britain at some stage".
The article also covers the need for high-quality scientists, engineers and technicians in order for the UK to maintain our research and innovation capacity in science, with the Confederation of British Industry calling for double the number of graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by 2014.
The key stage 4 science curriculum places an emphasis on how science works. The curriculum is designed to meet the full range of needs. It prepares young people to become scientifically literate citizens, enabling them to engage with contemporary science issues such as climate change and nuclear power. It also provides the scientific foundation for those aspiring to specialise in science and science related subjects post 16 and beyond.
There is now a suite of science GCSEs on offer ranging from single "core science", offering a foundation in the subject for those who will take its study no further, through to "triple science", three separate studies in GCSE chemistry, physics and biology, for those who are likely to progress to A-level and beyond.
The article details the summer 2009 increases in the numbers taking A-level and AS level sciences. Most impressively, the numbers taking "triple science" increased by about 20 per cent that year.
To read more about what Sir Professor Holman has to say about science education and what more can be done, please click on the link below:
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6032798 (opens a new browser window)
Tags: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, A-level, GCSE