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English schools face shortage of science teachers
Source: Agencies |
November 12, 2010, Friday
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SCHOOLS in England face a shortage of expert science teachers after the failure of a recruitment drive, a spending watchdog said today.
The National Audit Office said the education department was unlikely to meet a 10-year target set by the last government to raise the proportion of science teachers with maths and physics specialisms by 2014.
The target was set to help improve Britain's standing as a centre of research and to support the supply of scientists, engineers and technologists.
The watchdog added that the take-up of physics A-level exams, taken by pupils aged 18, had barely changed since 2006, although a rise in students taking in chemistry and maths at A-level had already passed goals set for 2014.
Education officials had also failed to monitor the progress of a drive to bring all school laboratories up to a good or excellent standard by 2010, the watchdog said in a report.
The most recently available research had found that a quarter of secondary school laboratories were inadequate and that it could take till 2021 to reach the target.
"This report calls for greater coherence in the government's efforts to encourage a generation of scientists," said Margaret Hodge, chair of parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
"The gaps and inconsistencies that this report identifies now need to be tackled head on," she added.
The watchdog found there had been a sharp increase in the number of pupils taking separate physics, chemistry and biology courses in GCSE exams taken at age 16.
However, it found that only half of secondary schools were offering this "triple science" option and that only two local authorities were able to provide the course at all their schools.
Employers' lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said it was concerned at the watchdog's findings.
"Unless the numbers taking science subjects at school and university rise, Britain faces a skills shortage which will weaken our economy," said CBI education director Susan Anderson.
The National Audit Office said the education department was unlikely to meet a 10-year target set by the last government to raise the proportion of science teachers with maths and physics specialisms by 2014.
The target was set to help improve Britain's standing as a centre of research and to support the supply of scientists, engineers and technologists.
The watchdog added that the take-up of physics A-level exams, taken by pupils aged 18, had barely changed since 2006, although a rise in students taking in chemistry and maths at A-level had already passed goals set for 2014.
Education officials had also failed to monitor the progress of a drive to bring all school laboratories up to a good or excellent standard by 2010, the watchdog said in a report.
The most recently available research had found that a quarter of secondary school laboratories were inadequate and that it could take till 2021 to reach the target.
"This report calls for greater coherence in the government's efforts to encourage a generation of scientists," said Margaret Hodge, chair of parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
"The gaps and inconsistencies that this report identifies now need to be tackled head on," she added.
The watchdog found there had been a sharp increase in the number of pupils taking separate physics, chemistry and biology courses in GCSE exams taken at age 16.
However, it found that only half of secondary schools were offering this "triple science" option and that only two local authorities were able to provide the course at all their schools.
Employers' lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said it was concerned at the watchdog's findings.
"Unless the numbers taking science subjects at school and university rise, Britain faces a skills shortage which will weaken our economy," said CBI education director Susan Anderson.
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