Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Monday, 7 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 November 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 14 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Public Service Agreements

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure the target is met in respect of science in the public service agreement target to raise standards in secondary schools.

Answer: Through the secondary national strategy we are providing all schools with advice, guidance and teaching materials together with training and targeted consultancy support to improve the quality of teaching and learning in science and to raise standards. In partnership with the Welcome Trust, we have also established a network of science learning centres to enable teachers to enhance their professional skills.New programmes of study for science are also being introduced at key stages 3 and 4, which are intended to maintain the breadth, depth and challenge of the current curriculum, while ensuring that science teaching is effective, motivating and relevant.At key stage 3, provisional 2005 results show that 70 per cent. of pupils achieved level 5 and above in science. Provisional 2005 figures at key stage 4 show 50 per cent. of pupils achieved grade A*-C in science. The corresponding figures for 2004 are 66 per cent. and 48.2 per cent. respectively.

Secondary information