Alternative qualifications corrupt science teaching, says report

April 23 2010

Pupils are opting for alternative science qualifications, such as BTECs and OCR Nationals, rather than the traditional GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics, in a bid to score an easier grade, a new report has said.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance Qualifications study said that these alternative qualifications are affecting the teaching of science at schools.

According to the report, the qualifications' equivalence "sparked much debate as to how the brightest could be identified and how employers could determine who was the most qualified for a job".

Phil Bunyan, director at the Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services, said the alternative qualifications form part of a governmental drive to bring science courses closer to the individual needs of pupils.

He noted that the growing popularity of science will lead to a new generation taking it on.

"When you watch Professor Brian Cox on TV and other really good science programs such as Bang Goes The Theory, you can see that there will be more science graduates in the future," Mr Bunyan added.

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