Written question asked by Adam Afriyie (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 June 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 June 2011. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 June 2011 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Science: GCSE

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what longitudinal research his Department has commissioned into existing interventions to encourage students to take up science subjects at GCSE level; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such interventions.

Answer: [holding answer 21 June 2011]: The Department has not commissioned any longitudinal research into the existing interventions to encourage students to take up science subjects at GCSE level.However, the Department part funds the Targeted Initiative on Science and Mathematics Education (TISME) along with the ESRC in partnership with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, The Institute of Physics and the Association of Science Education. The aim of the initiative is to help find new ways to encourage children and young people to greater achievement and understanding of Science and Mathematics- related subjects. TISME is made up of five research projects, which will examine the effectiveness of past and current initiatives and what new interventions and policies offer the potential to improve participation in science (and mathematics) up to and including A level.The Department has published its own research from the longitudinal National Pupil Database in ““Maths and science education: the supply of high achievers at A level””. This publication shows trends in entries for GCSE science and progression to A Level.

Secondary information