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State schools 'deny single science'

Posted on 4th June 2009

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Pupils at state schools are not being given the chance to study physics, chemistry and biology as single subjects at GCSE, the Conservatives claimed.

In Islington and Slough no students were entered for single science last year, according to government figures. It is a situation that has displeased shadow schools minister Nick Gibb.

He described it as "truly shocking" that there are areas where not a single pupil can sit separate science GCSEs.

The minister said youngsters are "being denied access to top careers in engineering and medical research", while they are being asked questions in science exams "that are tests of comprehension, but require no actual knowledge".

According to state figures, less than half (46 per cent) of the 2,809 comprehensive schools in England entered pupils in single science GCSEs.

In a recent international league table - which ranked the performance of 15-year-olds in science - it was revealed the UK had fallen to 14th place, which represents a slide of ten positions. ADNFCR-921-ID-19202936-ADNFCR