Boom in separate science subjects

Teenagers are showing a growing interest in science, with GCSE exam entries in chemistry, physics and biology rocketing by almost a third this year.

Entries for combined science courses fell as pupils opted for separate subjects which gave them the chance to study topics in more depth.

Results day was described as "a good day for science" by chief executive of the AQA exam board Andrew Hall, but there were warnings that too few schools encouraged or allowed students to study all three subjects to GCSE level.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Director of the National Science Learning Centre Prof Sir John Holman said: "This is a real success story and the priority now is to make sure that every school offers the option to take triple science, because we know this is an excellent preparation for further study of sciences at A-level."

Director general of the business organisation CBI Richard Lambert added: "Far too few students are given the option by schools to do triple science, and too few are taking it up even if it's available. Pupils, parents and teachers should know that triple science offers the best preparation for A-level science and a whole range of careers."

He added: "The Government must address the low proportion of students taking triple science GCSE as a priority."

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) said there were 121,988 chemistry candidates this year, 29,472 (32.2 per cent) more than last year. Physics entries rose 32.1 per cent, from 91,179 to 120,455. Biology remained the most popular of the three sciences with 129,464 exams taken, 28,559 (28.3 per cent) more than last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sir John said: "The proportion of students achieving A and A* grades in the sciences has fallen, in contrast to the trend in other subjects. This is probably related to the exam regulator Ofqual's instruction to exam boards to make their questions more challenging to high ability students.

"I hope that Ofqual has now rescued the situation and that we will have stability and reliability in science grades."

Related topics: