Budget 2008: Govt to drive forward science teaching
Every secondary school science teacher is to have greater access to resources to improve science education in schools, the chancellor has said.
Speaking this lunchtime Alistair Darling announced £10 million of funding to boost an overall £30 million science fund.
He said the fund would help to create “high quality” resources and contribute to an improvement in education.
The announcement follows concerns with the falling number of pupils opting to study science subjects at higher and degree level.
And last year the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revealed that Britain is no longer in the top ten countries on the basis of its science exam results.
Leading scientists responded by saying science teaching must be made more exciting to inspire pupils.
Speaking today, Mr Darling told MPs: “We will commit £10 million over the next five years – which alongside contributions from the Wellcome Trust and private sector will create a £30 million Enthuse Science fund.
“This will give every science teacher in secondary and further education access to high quality professional development helping improve the science offer to today’s children.”
The chancellor also announced that £200 million will be invested to bring forward by a year to 2011 the government’s aim for no schools to have fewer than 30 per cent of its pupils achieving five A*-C GCSEs, including English and maths.
The London Challenge model is to be extended, new trusts and federations around successful schools will be created and in areas of greatest need the government will drive forward a faster expansion of our Academies programme.
Commenting on the announcement, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: “In the context of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review, there is some good news for schools, including extra money for training science teachers, the expansion of the London Challenge model and bringing forward support for the toughest schools.
“However, I would have wanted Alistair Darling to commit himself to Gordon Brown’s pledge to raise spending on state education to private school levels. The government has not yet set a target date. 2014 is a realistic goal, I urge the government to commit itself to this target.”
