Enthusiasm for science

There have been several reports on the decline in students' attitudes towards science in secondary schools but attitudinal research in the primary sector is rather limited. In order to gain a greater understanding of what happens in primary schools Sarah Turner of Loughborough University and Gren Ireson of Nottingham Trent University have carried out an investigation of pupils' views of science.¹ They looked at two age groups, Year 2 and Year 6 and used questionnaires and interviews with Year 2 and questionnaires and observations with Year 6. Two schools were involved with a total of 44 Year 2 children and approximately 100 Year 6 children.