From September 2015, schools in England will be teaching new A-level science specifications that have been developed by examination boards to encompass new higher levels of demand developed by the Department for Education. Integral to these new specifications is a radical change to the contribution of practical science to the A-level grade of the…

Describes a survey of the views of students, teachers, advisers, and inspectors on school science at key stages 3 and 4 (11-16 year-olds) in the United Kingdom. Finds a mismatch between the intended purposes of the Science National Curriculum and supporting documentation, and its translation into classroom practice. (Author/WRM)