Jenny

Alot of the thinking went through the mill in the 80s when Science ( in what became Key Stages 3 & 4) was subject to massive change. Some 10%max of students were in Triple Science and some 60-70% on General Science or just one science often Biology only. Lots of gender bias as well. We saw the advent of Dual Award GCSE and the importance of science was promoted. We saw by 1990s some 80% of Students doing the Dual Award GCSE and experience a timetable of 20% Science. Bear in mind before 1988 - teachers and schools did not have a prescribed curriculum.

Alot of the thinking that went on - will be covered in Journals of the ASE. The basis of what we teach today was debated at length and the curriculum changed quite dramatically. Also worth looking at the work of Nuffield Foundation and Salters from the 1980s. These were organisations that were asking the questions - what should Science teaching and learning be all about. As the 1988+ National Curriculum Changes were implemented we saw again the debate what should we teach in Science to be a "good citizen".

There was at the time some 5-6 ( nationally) folks who were called Secondary Science Curriculum Review - they were charged with encouraging debate. Also look up an outfit called The Schools Council.

Lots of "talk" went on the 1980s. We would be asking questions - What is Science teaching for? How much do we inform youngsters about current issues. And could we use Science content to support other subjects?

Some thoughts.

David

Dr David Ward - Partnership Director
email [log in to unmask], Mob 07939148839; Office 0161 295 2602;
Greater Manchester STEM CENTRE

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