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THEME 5: MODERNISING SCIENCE EDUCATION AND PROMOTING SCIENCE CAREERS
Main Issues
1. If Scotland is to become a "science nation" it must regard attainment in science as on a par with literacy and numeracy skills as a fundamental part of education, for every citizen.
2. This theme covers the whole range of issues affecting the supply of people with science expertise attained through formal education, but also touches the need for a wider science literacy and how this should be delivered through formal education. Wider provision through complementary educational activities, such as science centres and festivals is covered in Theme 6, although there will inevitably be some overlap as formal and informal provision feed off each other.
3. In terms of the supply of scientists into the economy, there is increasing concern about the take-up of some pure science subjects at degree level. If we are to build an economy which depends increasingly on science and innovation, and to attract new investment, we shall need a very strong cohort of "budding scientists". The economy also needs to be ready to provide fulfilling and well-paid jobs requiring these skills, in order that the public perception of science as a wise career choice is reinforced. We need to gather better evidence about whether the current pattern of take-up of science will be a problem for the economy over the coming decades,
4. The UK Government's Next Steps paper sets out a number of targets to raise the numbers of pupils, graduates and teachers with science skills (especially in physics, chemistry and mathematics), and to improve teaching, attainment and access to science subjects at school. In terms of the formal school science education, the Executive is currently conducting a major review of the curriculum 3 to 18. It is encouraging engagement and debate by teachers and other stakeholders on the outputs of this process. The recent publication 'A Curriculum for Excellence: Progress and Proposals' 6 describes the direction of travel and includes an outline rationale for science. A Curriculum for Excellence provides the means of embedding enterprise education, creativity and sustainable development into the mainstream of teaching and learning. Science will contribute strongly to these cross-curricular themes. Interested parties are invited to comment on outputs from the curriculum review via the website link below. In developing an updated science strategy the intention will be to include material on science education in the classroom, but this will draw on the ongoing work from the curriculum review.
5. We need to:
- ensure a sufficient flow of qualified scientists, but consider also how far the Executive should go in promoting science careers above other careers.
- understand better the attitudes of young people towards science and science careers.
- beyond school, ensure that science talent is not wasted by poor career advice and development.
6. Views are sought in this consultation on what else can and should be done to modernising science education - although noting that input connected with the school curriculum should be made to the curriculum 3-18 review (see para 4 above). Views are also sought on what else can and should be done to promote science careers.
Commitments and actions from the Progress Report on the science strategy
7. In responding to this consultation it would be helpful to have views on the following proposed aspirations and actions:
Long term aspirations
We will:
- Build, through A Curriculum for Excellence, a continuing cycle of review of the curriculum to keep it updated, refreshed and relevant. The school science curriculum will be part of the ongoing cycle of review
- Ensure a good supply of science and mathematics teachers and provide the means to keep their skills and knowledge up to date
- Ensure that the science and technology facilities in schools support the science curriculum
- Improve the evidence base in relation to supply and demand for scientists, engineers and mathematicians
- Ensure that careers information provides a complete and up-to-date picture of the opportunities available to those who study science, based on career destinations
- In conjunction with a broad range of formal and informal science education providers, including our Science Centres, inspire young people to consider the achievements of science, the place of science in society and the possibility of a future science career
- Improve career development opportunities for scientists and researchers in the science research base
- Ensure that publicly funded fellowship schemes remain attractive and meet current needs
Short to medium term action points
- Build on the initial work on the review of science in the curriculum which has begun and is likely to be continued during 2006 through debate, testing, refinement and further consideration of the proposals which emerge
- Provide funding in 2006-07 (and similar provision in future years) for an education programme in the four Science Centres and ensure that promotion of science careers is incorporated
- Support the programme of teacher Continuing Professional Development being organised by the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre, and the programme of Teacher Fellowships through the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Undertake the first Scottish Survey of Achievement in science in 2007, to measure attainment in science 5-14
- Take forward with Future Skills Scotland, a study in 2006-07 on the supply and demand for scientists, engineers and mathematicians in Scotland
- Ask Careers Scotland to ensure that careers material builds in the latest findings from destinations surveys by the Scottish Funding Council
- Use the unique position of our Science Centres in a much more cohesive fashion to communicate the attractiveness of a science career to an increasingly diverse audience
- Work with the Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland on task force activity to improve career paths for academics
- Work with the Royal Society of Edinburgh on reshaping the Executive-funded Research Fellowship scheme to ensure optimum relevance to Scottish needs
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