2014 news
December 2014
SCORE has responded to the Department for Education consultation
on new performance descriptors for key stages 1 and 2. Read the
response
here.
November 2014
The Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology
Select Committee Andrew Miller MP has sent a "video
letter" to the Minister for School Reform, Nick Gibb MP,
asking him to rethink changes to the assessment of practical work
in the sciences at A-level and encourage Ofqual to be more
ambitious for practical science in schools. It is available to
watch here
Following the publication of this video letter, SCORE
(Science Community Representing Education) said:
We are pleased the House of Commons Science and
Technology Committee has reminded the minister about the
detrimental impact the reforms are likely to have on biology,
chemistry and physics education in England. These changes mean
achievement in practical work would be reported as a pass or fail,
separate from the A-level examination grade. Practical work is
integral to the sciences, but these changes run the risk of
devaluing practical work, and may mean students are denied the rich
and challenging learning experience they deserve in these
subjects.
SCORE fears that many universities will not include the
practical work endorsement as part of their admissions criteria,
particularly for entry to non-science subjects. This would send a
strong message to schools and colleges that practical work is no
longer a valued element of the A-levels, and some teachers may
choose to reduce to a minimum the time spent in this area.
Practical work is not an optional add-on to science - it is an
essential component.
The science and education communities have been united
in their opposition to this reform, and their warnings of the
impact it will have. Despite this consensus Ofqual has so far
refused to listen to these warnings. We hope that Nick Gibb will
take account of the important message in this video letter. SCORE
agrees that the current arrangement for assessing practical work is
not fit for purpose, but the proposed change does not necessarily
solve the problems it is supposed to address. More time for robust
research into alternative models is urgently needed.
October 2014
In October 2014 SCORE held a seminar to discuss changes to the
assessment of practical science at A-level. More information can be
found here
September 2014
SCORE responded to the Department for Education consultation on initial teacher training
July 2014
SCORE responded to the Department for Education
consultation on the draft Key Stage 4 Programme of Study
SCORE responded to the Ofqual
consultation on completing GCSE, AS and A-Level
reform
June 2014
SCORE responded to the
Ofqual consultation on Setting the Grade Standards of new GCSEs in
England
May 2014
SCORE responded to the UCAS
consultation on introducing a new tariff
SCORE responded to the Ofqual consultation
on
Regulating Endorsement and Examiner-Author Conflicts
March and April 2014 - news on A-level
reform in the sciences
Read the SCORE press release in response to Ofqual's
announcement on A-level assessment changes in the
sciences 9 April 2014
In ongoing discussion with Ofqual SCORE has reiterated the
concerns surrounding negative consequences to students and schools
in separating the mark for practical work in the sciences
from an overall A-level grade.
Read most
recent correspondence with Ofqual Chief Regulator (March
2014)
SCORE letter to The Times urges Ofqual not to separate
practical marks from core A-level grades. Read
the full statement from SCORE. Wednesday 26 March 2014
SCORE responded to the Ofqual consultation on A-level regulatory
requirements. The consultation is intended to be read in
conjunction with the SCORE response to the Department for Education
consultation on A-level subject content in biology, chemistry and
physics (below). In December 2013, SCORE joined other partners in
the science education community to express deep concerns
surrounding the proposals presented in the Ofqual and Department
for Education consultations.