§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the promotion of science education in England and Wales. [21523]
§ Mr. Robin SquireIn England, the national curriculum ensures that all pupils, from the age of five to 16, study science as a core subject. Most pupils in their final year of compulsory schooling also take GCSEs in science and a greater proportion of students than ever before are getting science A-levels. In addition, general national vocational qualifications in science became widely available last September and there are already signs that they will encourage more young people to continue with science post-16. We have also taken steps to promote and encourage recruitment to science, mathematics and technology courses in higher education: the maximum level of publicly-funded tuition fees for practical courses is more than double the level of classroom-based courses. The basis for action on the promotion of science education in Wales is to be found in the two documents, "Science in the National Curriculum" and "A Bright Future: Getting the Best for every Pupil at School in Wales", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.