Science warning as A-levels branded ‘not fit for purpose’

A-LEVELS are not fit for purpose and must be reformed to increase the numbers taking sciences at university, according to The Royal Society.

In a report, published today, it calls for an “A-level Baccalaureate” to be created to encourage pupils to take a wider range of subjects in sixth form.

The state of the nation report warns the current system is not supporting students to take sciences at A-level or get on to science degrees at university.

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Many universities expect candidates to have sat more than one science A-level in order to study the subjects in higher education.

But the Royal Society has found that across the UK in 2009, just 17 per cent of 16-18 year-olds took one or more science A-level.

The report said: “Given that higher education institutions tend to want STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) undergraduates to have taken more than one science subject, excluding maths, and that many students would welcome being able to take a wider range and number of subjects at A-level, it is clear that A-levels are not fit for purpose.”

Both Scotland and Wales are already looking at baccalaureate-style qualifications for science and languages for post-16 education.

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Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced a new “English Bacc” at GCSE. The qualification is awarded to school pupils who achieve five good GCSEs in English, maths, a science, a humanity and a modern language. The report calls for a similar approach to be taken at A-level to encourage students to take a broader range of subjects.

The Royal Society also found there are too few specialist science and maths teachers in schools because the lack of graduates in the subjects is creating a “self-perpetuating cycle”.

Prof Dame Athene Donald, chairman of the Royal Society’s education committee, said: “At a time of economic uncertainty, when science and scientists can play a key role in revitalising the UK’s financial outlook, it is deeply worrying to find that numbers of A-level science students are at such low levels.”

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the Government shared the Royal Society’s concerns about the need to improve the take-up of science and maths in schools.

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He added: “The Schools White Paper reflects the importance this Government attaches to these subjects by exploring ways in which to attract the best graduates in science and maths into the teaching profession.”

He said Ministers were also seeking advice from universities and learned societies about how to strengthen science and maths in the school curriculum.

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