Science: non-statutory guidance (1991)

This publication, from the National Curriculum Council, gives guidance to teachers of science and others concerned with science education. It describes the changes to the National Curriculum science Order that were introduced in 1991. It introduces the four new attainment targets of: Scientific investigation; Life and living processes; Materials and their properties; Physical processes.

The 1991 revision of the National Curriculum reduced the 17 attainment targets of the 1989 science Order to the four listed above. This was achieved by introducing broader indicators of attainment, removing some statements of attainment that dealt with very specific areas of science and ensuring they were made explicit in the text of the relevant attainment targets. The former Model B science (one subject equivalent at Key Stage Four) described in the 1989 Science Order was changed into Single Science, a course that was designed to be appropriate for students of all abilities in Key Stage Four and to lead to one GCSE.

The guidance reassured teachers that schemes of work based on the programmes of study (PoS) in the 1989 science Order should not need much amendment. The science content to be taught had remained almost the same. As a consequence, therefore, much of the non-statutory guidance published by NCC in June 1989 was still useful to teachers.

The Programmes of Study i.e. what was to be taught, was set out in four attainment targets. Each attainment target contained a number of strands showing the progression of main scientific ideas as they develop through the National Curriculum levels. The Non-Statutory Guidance shows the transformation of Attainment Targets in the 1989 Order to the new Attainment Targets and Strands of the 1991 science Order to help teachers to plan from the new Order.

This document, although published by National Curriculum Council (NCC), was produced in collaboration with the Secondary Examinations and Assessment Council (SEAC). The National Curriculum was introduced by the passing into law of The Education Reform Act of 1988. It established the idea of a National Curriculum (NC) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The National Curriculum Council (NCC) set out also to support the implementation of the National Curriculum by providing support and guidance for teachers.