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School Science

Answer

The Government's recent 14–19 Education and Skills White Paper reaffirms our commitment, as outlined in the 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework and our response to Professor Smith's inquiry into post-14 mathematics education, to encourage more young people to study physics, chemistry and mathematics at A level. We are taking this forward by improving teaching and learning across all school phases by:"introducing a newly structured A level, for first teaching from September 2004, making AS/A level mathematics more flexible and manageable;""introducing a new programme of study for science at key stage 4, leading to new GCSEs. The new programme maintains the breadth, depth and challenge of the current curriculum, while catering for a wide range of young people's interests and aptitudes which will ensure that the science taught in schools inspires young people to pursue further study;""developing a new two tier mathematics GCSE so that all young people have the opportunity to achieve a grade C;""asking QCA to develop and test a new curriculum and assessment model for mathematics from entry level to level 3 which will incorporate changes resulting from work that QCA has been doing in response to recommendations in the Smith report;""renewing and updating the Primary National Strategy framework for the teaching of mathematics, to ensure that it supports schools and settings to raise attainment still further;""reviewing science and mathematics at key stage 3, especially in relation to the new science programme at key stage 4 and the review of the Primary National Strategy;""providing innovative and exciting continuing professional development for teachers and technicians through the national network of science learning centres;""establishing a National Centre for Excellence in the teaching of mathematics, that will develop a continuing professional development framework for mathematics teachers and quality assure mathematics continuing professional development programmes;""introducing, from September 2004, a framework for the teaching and learning of mathematics in post-16 education;""agreeing to the expansion of the Mathematics in Education and Industry project with a view to establishing a network of centres to improve take-up and teaching of GCE further mathematics;""improving teacher recruitment in science and mathematics by increasing the value of the teacher training bursaries for science and mathematics graduates and ‘golden hellos' for new science and mathematics teachers;""piloting courses designed to enhance subject knowledge of those who wish to do initial teacher training in physics, chemistry or mathematics but who do not have the necessary subject knowledge."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

37021; 440 c2426-7W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Chemistry Pupils Science Mathematics Physics GCE A-level

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk