Ofsted Subject Reports 2000-01: Secondary Science

This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19.

The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data gathered through the Section 10 inspection of Schools, which involved science specific inspectors gathering evidence and writing subject specific sections of the report.

The evidence base also included data from subject specific inspection of a sample of secondary schools.

The 2000-01 report gives a range of findings including:

*Results in GCSE science show a small improvement. There has also been a small increase in the proportion of candidates obtaining higher grades in GCE A-level science subjects.

*Preparation for practical work is very thorough particularly at Key Stage Four. There is now more explicit preparation for Key Stage Three national tests.

*Target-setting for individual students is now commonplace at Key Stage Four but is far less usual at Key Stage Three. Some departments have found that they can substantially reduce content by avoiding repetition of work covered at Key Stage Two.

*In their review of Key Stage Three, a growing minority of schools are drawing on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) exemplar scheme of work for Key Stage Three. At GCE A-level, however, there has been a further slight decline. In an international survey carried out by the OECD, English students' capabilities in science compared favourably with those of students in other countries.

* The use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support teaching is growing slowly. Assessment remains generally too narrow in scope, although more use is being made of the information from assessment to set targets for students' attainment in external tests and examinations.