Produced by the Department for Children Schools and Families and the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency, this 2010 document lays out the size, nature and procedures around the sample of Key Stage Two science tests that was implemented after testing of all students was discontinued in 2009.

This Technicians and Progression report from the Skills Commission presents the findings of an inquiry into the alternatives to university degrees that the post-16 education system provides. The report maintains that post-compulsory education should offer a diverse range of education provision, vocational as well...

This enquiry into technology and school science was conducted by HMI. The report was published in 1985. The enquiry was concerned not only with the specific technology courses offered by science departments but also sought to obtain details of any attempts being made to develop technology across the curriculum,...

This Catalyst article looks at how our knowledge of the human genome has increased greatly during the last 10 years, and genome sequencing techniques have become much faster. On 26th June 2000 it was announced that scientists had completed a first draft of the human genome, the DNA instructions for making a human...

A Catalyst article exploring the testing of new medicines to see if they are safe for people to take. The effects on cells of a potential new drug are investigated using tissue cultures of human or animal cells. Some tissue cultures use fresh tissue samples, but most come from well-established laboratory cell...

The Bringing Cutting Edge Science to the Classroom programme evaluation was commissioned in Autumn 2015 to analyse the success of the Cutting Edge programme in delivering its stated aims, and to assess the impact of the programme on participants, their students and colleagues.

The evaluation sought to...

Published in June 2002, this article, by Shirley Simon, looks at applying Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) theory to planning and teaching Thinking Science lessons for students with different needs.

Using Thinking Science with mixed-ability classes can be challenging...

This Catalyst article looks at the noble gases (Group 0 or 8 in the periodic table) which are almost inert. This article shows how they were discovered through the use of fractional distillation and looks at their chemical and physical properties.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2011,...

This report was intended to provide a longer term perspective on changes taking place in students’ understanding over the compulsory school years. The topic of air was chosen on the basis both of its importance throughout school science and its accessibility to students...

A Catalyst article about deciding right from wrong in biology. Modern science raises many ethical questions. How these questions can be answered either ethically or by coming to a personal decision is discussed. How ethical frameworks can be used to address ethical questions is applied to the case of genetically...

In 2007 and 2008, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) monitored the new specifications in GCSE science and GCSE additional science offered by the three England-based unitary awarding bodies – the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel, and Oxford, Cambridge and RSA...

This document from the Department of Education looks at how the headteacher and teachers at two different secondary schools work together to promote good behaviour. The resource explores strategies including the 'head's breakfast', listening staff, the 'ladder' of detentions, visibility of senior staff and the...

A Catalyst article about Socotra, a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean off the horn of Africa, belonging to the Republic of Yemen. The islands are becoming famous for their range of animal and plant species and for their use as a natural 'laboratory' where ideas about evolution can be tested. The...

A Catalyst article describing the species that have had the greatest impact on planet Earth during its billions of years of history. Which come out on top of the 'league table of life'? As hominids have only walked the Earth for part of its existence the article looks at the history of life, from the dawn of...

This paper, published in  2015,  examines how students' interest and enjoyment of learning STEM subjects is often equated with their interest in STEM careers. Yet research shows that engagement with school science and motivation for a science career are not the same as students may simultaneously report positive...