RSC on the campaign trail

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has launched a campaign to address a 'demonstrable decline in school science examination standards that is destroying the UK's competitiveness'. To start the campaign, chief executive of the RSC, Dr Richard Pike, began a petition on the 10 Downing Street website in November. 

In his request for signatories, Pike makes clear his reasons for the campaign: 'Science examination standards at UK schools have eroded so severely that the testing of problem-solving, critical thinking and the application of mathematics has almost disappeared', adding, 'even bright students with enthusiastic teachers are being compelled to "learn to the test", answering undemanding questions to satisfy the needs of league tables and national targets'. 

According to Pike, 'This system is failing an entire generation which will be unequipped to address key issues facing society, whether as specialist scientists or members of a wider scientific community'. 'The record-breaking results in school examination passes', he adds, 'are illusory, with deficiencies having to be remedied at enormous expense by universities and employers'. The problems, he believes, are compounded by 'key sections of the education community being in denial'.