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| Science teaching 'back to front' | Science teaching 'back to front' |
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| The new GCSE science curriculum has been branded "soundbite science" which takes a back-to-front approach. | The new GCSE science curriculum has been branded "soundbite science" which takes a back-to-front approach. |
| Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College London, is among the scientists to attack the core qualification, where pupils debate scientific issues. | Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College London, is among the scientists to attack the core qualification, where pupils debate scientific issues. |
| "Science should inform the news agenda, not the other way round," he said in a report from the Institute of Ideas think tank. | "Science should inform the news agenda, not the other way round," he said in a report from the Institute of Ideas think tank. |
| The Department for Education said the new GCSEs did involve academic rigour. | The Department for Education said the new GCSEs did involve academic rigour. |
| Sir Richard wrote: "A science curriculum based on encouraging pupils to debate science in the news is taking a back-to-front approach". | Sir Richard wrote: "A science curriculum based on encouraging pupils to debate science in the news is taking a back-to-front approach". |
| CORE: SCIENTIFIC LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Built around key concepts and "the nature of science and how it works":You and your genes The Earth in the UniverseFood matters Radiation and lifeMaterial choices Keeping healthyRadioactive materials Life on EarthAssessed through minimum 25% external exams and 25% coursework In recent years most pupils have studied a "combined science" double GCSE rather than separate chemistry, physics and biology, which are largely confined to grammar and independent schools. | CORE: SCIENTIFIC LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Built around key concepts and "the nature of science and how it works":You and your genes The Earth in the UniverseFood matters Radiation and lifeMaterial choices Keeping healthyRadioactive materials Life on EarthAssessed through minimum 25% external exams and 25% coursework In recent years most pupils have studied a "combined science" double GCSE rather than separate chemistry, physics and biology, which are largely confined to grammar and independent schools. |
| But from this September, most are taking a GCSE in "scientific literacy for the 21st Century" - covering issues including global warming and mobile phone technology. | |
| The expectation is they will also do an Additional Science GCSE - either "general", with a more factual basis, or "applied", with a more practical focus. | |
| In a critical essay David Perks, head of physics at Graveney School, in London, describes this as a "dumbing down" of the subject. | In a critical essay David Perks, head of physics at Graveney School, in London, describes this as a "dumbing down" of the subject. |
| He argues it will not produce citizens with a greater understanding of scientific issues - not least because they will not have "a thorough grounding in the sciences". | He argues it will not produce citizens with a greater understanding of scientific issues - not least because they will not have "a thorough grounding in the sciences". |
| He suggests instead everyone should study separate chemistry, physics and biology. | He suggests instead everyone should study separate chemistry, physics and biology. |
| 'Politicians responsible' | 'Politicians responsible' |
| Ethicist Baroness Mary Warnock added: "What counts as an issue to be debated in class is largely, as David Perks points out, dictated by the press. | Ethicist Baroness Mary Warnock added: "What counts as an issue to be debated in class is largely, as David Perks points out, dictated by the press. |
| "Far too much teaching at school has already degenerated into this kind of debate, more suitable for the pub than the school room." | "Far too much teaching at school has already degenerated into this kind of debate, more suitable for the pub than the school room." |
| Science writer Simon Singh blames politicians. | Science writer Simon Singh blames politicians. |
| "Every politician responsible for education, science and industry over the past 20 years has allowed science education to decline miserably in terms of its mission to create new scientists." | "Every politician responsible for education, science and industry over the past 20 years has allowed science education to decline miserably in terms of its mission to create new scientists." |
| But the Department for Education and Skills said the qualification would be academically rigorous while encouraging more young people to consider studying science post-16. | But the Department for Education and Skills said the qualification would be academically rigorous while encouraging more young people to consider studying science post-16. |
| A spokesman said under the new programme pupils would study more than one science subject. | A spokesman said under the new programme pupils would study more than one science subject. |
| "We also propose to establish co-operation between schools, colleges and universities by 2008, so that every child who wishes to choose to study the three separate sciences will be able to do so," he said. | "We also propose to establish co-operation between schools, colleges and universities by 2008, so that every child who wishes to choose to study the three separate sciences will be able to do so," he said. |