This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Room For Improvement In Pupil's Attainment In Science
29/11/2000
Recent inspection evidence shows that the teaching and learning of specialist science courses in Scottish secondary schools is effective, and that pupils are responding well to the high expectations set by teachers.
However, evidence from the Assessment of Achievement Programme shows that there are significant weaknesses in pupils' attainment in primary schools and in secondary schools at S1/S2.
Welcoming the reports, Deputy Minister for Education, Nicol Stephen, said the Executive would take action to raise attainment in the areas highlighted.
"Science is playing an increasingly key role in our lives and it is important that all pupils in both primary and secondary schools get the highest quality experience possible.
"Science education will play a key role in ensuring the strength and development of the Scottish economy. It must adapt to meet the changing needs of the 21 st Century.
"While I am pleased at the quality of much of the provision, I am concerned at the levels of pupil attainment in primary schools and in the early stages of secondary.
"It is vital that specialist science courses are kept up to date, and studied by increasing numbers of young people. There has been a decline in those taking Higher Physics, Chemistry and Biology since 1995, and in the numbers taking some science based degrees.
"It is important that all young people have the knowledge of science needed to understand and respond to some of society's biggest challenges and changes.
"We need a national campaign to raise the importance of science education in Scotland. Science education needs to be more relevant, more interesting and more dynamic. The Scottish Executive is developing a Science Strategy. It will provide a basis on which to respond to that challenge. As part of that overall strategy, the Executive will shortly announce steps to secure the relevance and quality of science education in schools.
"The reports show that teachers of science are performing well, but need more support to help them raise attainment and improve standards in both primary schools and at the early secondary stages. As part of our Science Strategy, I will ask Learning and Teaching Scotland to bring forward proposals to tackle the key issues relating to science teaching in schools."
BACKGROUND
1. The report on Standards and Quality in Secondary Schools 1995-2000: The Sciences is the sixth in a series of reports dealing with individual subjects in the secondary school. Standards and Quality reports evaluate individual subjects based on the published performance indicators used by HMI in all school inspections, and shared with schools in the HMI publication "How Good is our Schools?
2. The evaluations made in the Standards and Quality report on the Sciences are based on evidence from the inspection of 324 biology, chemistry, physics and science departments in secondary schools during the period 1995-2000. In 258 of these departments the inspection was part of a school inspection leading to a published report. 66 were inspections which did not lead to published reports.
3. AAP surveys of mathematics, English language and science are carried out at 3-yearly intervals so that in each year there is a survey of one of these subjects. P4, P7 and S2 pupils are assessed and the results are reported in terms of 5-14 target levels. The assessment frameworks and tasks used in the surveys are based on the appropriate national 5-14 guidelines.
4. The 1999 Science survey assessed the knowledge, understanding and skills of pupils in science. It used over 200 written tasks to assess knowledge and understanding, and more than 175 tasks to assess pupils' skills. The survey involved 465 schools and some 9,500 pupils drawn from all over Scotland.
5. Media copies of both reports are available from Laura Henderson on 0131-244-0649.
News Release: SE3070/2000
29 Nov 2000