Introduction to the National Curriculum for Science

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• Introduction to the National Curriculum for
  Science
• WIE IE2A6
• Barry Meatyard

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• Introductions and house-keeping
• Timetable for module
• Assignments

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• Aims of this session
• set the historical context and purpose of
  science education
• provide an overview of the science national
  curriculum and the place of chemistry / physics
  within it

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• A few minutes reflection
• How was it for you?

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• "I am concerned on my journeys to find complaints
  from industry that new recruits from (the)
  schools sometimes do not have the basic tools to
  do the job that is required.

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• James Callaghan (then Labour Prime Minister)
  speech at Ruskin College, Oxford - 1976
• The start of The Great Debate what is
  education for?
• The GB established the thrust that education
  should become more relevant and more vocational

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• This is set against the background of the then
  recent (late 1960s) shift away from the Grammar
  School / Secondary Modern School divide that was
  prevalent in the post war years.
• (GS academic / professional
• SM vocational / professional (?) )

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• What is the purpose of science education?
• Four basic arguments
• reliable and useful knowledge
• economics
• cultural
• democratic

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• The central tension in school science is between
  
• science for all (to equip individuals with the
  scientific literacy to live in a technological
  age),

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• The central tension in school science is between
  
• And
• 2. science for the specialist
  pre-professional training for those who may
  progress to higher level science

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• The 1988 Education Reform Act (probably the most
  significant piece of educational law making since
  the 1944 Education Act) increased power of
  central government and schools and diminished
  those of the LEAs..AND.. introduced the concept
  of a National Curriculum

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• But to go back a bit.
• 19thC science seen as a collection of facts and
  as of lower value than the classics in terms of
  development
• 1902 - changing attitudes with publicly funded
  Grammar Schools science (aka Phys and Chem) a
  compulsory part of the curriculum.

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• But to go back a bit.
• After WW1 (1918) the notion of science for all
  (20) emerged and the GenSci vs separate
  subjects began (see later!)
• 1944 Education Act free sec. education for all
  but with a great divide between GS and SM.

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• But to go back a bit.
• This was actually a creative era with many
  schemes focusing on science in an everyday
  context, but it wasnt until 1962 that the
  Nuffield Syllabi impacted on science education.
• 60s and 70s free market for science education
  with a wide range of syllabi and schemes

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• But to go back a bit.
• The CSE was introduced in 1965 available in 3
  modes mode 3 of which allowed teachers to
  design courses best suited to their own students.
• Then a series of reports between 1977 and 1985
  set out the direction of Govt thinking and the
  need for a national entitlement to science
  education

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• The National Curriculum
• Balanced and broad based
• Promotes spiritual moral cultural mental and
  physical development
• Prepares pupils for the opportunities,
  responsibilities and experiences of adult life
• Includes, in addition to the NC, RE, and, for
  secondary pupils, sex education.

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The Framework of the National Curriculum
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• The National Curriculum
• Core Subjects Eng, Maths, Science
• Foundation subjects humanities, MFL, DT, PE,
  ICT, art, music, citizenship
• RE and sex ed.
• careers education and guidance at KS4

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• The National Curriculum
• Some terminology
• Programmes of Study (PoS) minimum statutory
  entitlement to knowledge, understanding and
  skills (syllabus)
• Attainment Target (AT) detail within each
  subject (e.g. AT (now referred to as Sc) 1,2,3,4
  within Science)
• Level Descriptors define the levels of
  performance (8 EP)
• Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) tests used to
  measure progress

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• The National Curriculum
• Average Expectations

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• The National Curriculum
• The requirement for testing (originally conceived
  as a means of understanding pupil needs) was
  controversial and since its inception the NC has
  undergone many revisions.
• 1993 Dearing Review (reduced content,
  simplified PoSs, more professional judgement for
  teachers, modified assessment.

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• The National Curriculum
• Not universally accepted by teachers often seen
  as a one size fits all approach. Also the focus
  on science rather than BCP led to varying
  teaching competencies (although at his time there
  was a national shortage of CP teachers.

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• The National Curriculum
• The various reviews did not represent a major
  overhaul but a series of attempts to adjust it to
  fit a broader range of needs. It generally failed
  to meet the needs of aspirant scientists, nor can
  it be said to have raised the level of scientific
  literacy for the majority.

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• Science Education in the 21st Century
• The Beyond 2000 report initiated a pilot project
  21st Century Science which was designed to
  address the central tension. Commissioned by QCA,
  developed by Uni of York and the Nuffield. Pilot
  has just completed is first phase and results are
  encouraging..

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• C21 Science
• Above all it demonstrates that a core plus
  extension model is feasible and can be
  implemented. Early feedback indicates greater
  commitment and involvement amongst students who
  enjoy science in the context of the real world
  and a more discussive approach.

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• C21 Science
• http//www.21stcenturyscience.org/

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• "Poor education is a personal tragedy and a
  national scandal. Yet even now, with all the
  progress of recent years, a quarter of
  11-year-olds fail their basic tests and almost
  half of 16-year-olds don't get five decent
  GCSEs."
• Tony Blair Labour Party Conference 2001

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• The 2006 revision of NC
• In parallel with 21C there has been a
  modification of the NC to include How Science
  Works. This mirrors some of the early
  development in 21C
• See
• http//www.qca.org.uk/qca_9437.aspx

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• The 2006 revision of NC
• How Science Works
• Phys http//www.timetabler.com/physics4u/4Ufreepo
  werpoints.html
• Chem
• http//www.practicalchemistry.org/experiments/inte
  rmediate/how-science-works/topic-index.html

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• Exploring the National Curriculum
• Some ideas and practical opportunities