Chief scientist warns PM against taking practical marks out of A-levels

Sir Mark Walport warns schools will 'conclude theory is all that matters' for good exam gradesThe government's chief science adviser has warned the prime minister that the next generation of British scientists risks being deskilled if marks for practical experiments stop counting towards final grades for A-levels in physics, chemistry and biology.Sir Mark Walport, who was appointed last year, told David Cameron that the proposed change risks further downgrading practical skills, at a time when Britain is in what the PM has described as a global race for economic success.The educational qualifications body, Ofqual, wants performance in science practicals and laboratory work to be separately reported so that they do not affect a student's headline grade, under A-level reforms due after 2015.Ofqual is proposing the change in response to a call by the education secretary, Michael Gove, for a crackdown on grade inflation. There is a belief that students have been picking up easy marks in practical exams.In a letter to Ofqual – copies of which were also sent to Cameron, business secretary Vince Cable, Gove, universities minister David Willetts and cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood – Walport writes: "There is a risk that the proposed arrangements will lead to a further downgrading of practical skills, as schools and colleges conclude that theory is all that matters to get a good grade."Walport was writing as co-chairman of the Council for Science and Tech-nology (CST), the pr...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: A-levels Schools Education Science Physics Chemistry Biology Economic policy Politics The Observer News Source Type: news