Nuffield Science in Practice

The Nuffield Foundation set up the Nuffield Science in Practice project in 1991 to innovate in the field of vocational science education. Just as work started, the government announced that the National Council of Vocational Qualifications (NCVQ) would be setting up a new general vocational qualification to replace BTECs. The Nuffield Science in Practice project was able to contribute to the development of the new GNVQs in Science at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Early involvement in developing GNVQ Science allowed the project to interpret the emerging qualifications to the teachers in many schools and colleges that saw its potential for some of their students. The project helped to set up a network of user groups to support teachers starting the new courses.

Publications
The new GNVQ specifications had novel features because NCVQ adopted a distinctive approach to defining the mastery learning required. The first of the project publications, ‘GNVQ Science: Your Questions Answered’ (1994) sought to explain the new programmes and their rationale. The project, in partnership with Heinemann, went on to publish textbooks and files of assignments for the Intermediate and Advanced level courses between 1995 and 1996.