Pupils poorly prepared for science jobs

A new report by Ofsted claims that GCSE science does not sufficiently test practical skills. As a result it concludes that pupils are poorly prepared for further science learning or any job that involves science, as teachers do not see the need to teach practical skills thoroughly.

Ofsted aims to highlight the importance of teaching science for understanding. Their report argues that ‘pupils in schools need to discover the concepts revealed through observing scientific phenomena and conducting experimental investigations for themselves. They are then more likely to continue to study science and use that learning for work, for family, and to contribute as informed citizens’.

However the report also reflects and explores the concerns often voiced by employers, higher education, and the scientific community’s professional bodies, that too many school leavers are not well-enough equipped scientifically with practical, investigative and analytical skills.