Science Field Trips in Parliament

FSC evidence features prominently in the parliamentary report into science practicals and field trips which was published on 14th September.

Our concerns were backed up by submissions from many other organisations and individuals including young people studying science in secondary schools and their teachers. The Science and Technology Committee confirmed that ‘the vast majority of students told us there was a complete lack of field trips’.

The committee recommends that the government takes action in a number of areas to remedy the decline in number and quality of field trips, including putting fieldwork into the science curriculum, ensuring that all science teachers are adequately trained to do fieldwork and providing poorer pupils with subsidies to enable them to take part.

Dr Steve Tilling, FSC’s Director of Communications welcomed the report saying, “At long last our MPs are noticing that we have a major problem with science education in the UK. On the one hand we want more scientists to support UK innovation and enterprise and on the other we’re providing too many science practicals that are deadly dull, or non-existent. They are a turn off. If this package of sensible and affordable recommendations is adopted by government it will help to reverse a long-lasting decline. We hope that the science and education ministers accept it in full”.

See http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/science-and-technology-committee/news/110914-sch-sci-published/ for more details

Tuesday, October 4, 2011