§ Mr. BradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans he has to reassess the provision for fieldwork within the curriculum for science(a) GCSE and (b) A-level; and if he will make a statement; [127750]
141W(2) what assessment he has made of the resource implications that would arise if all secondary schools were required to make provision for fieldwork for all pupils; [127751]
(3) what assessment he has made of the implications for environmental awareness of access to field work as part of the biology curriculum; [128064]
(4) what information his Department collects centrally about secondary schools providing science or biology field work opportunities for all pupils; and what strategies he has for encouraging such provisions. [128065]
§ Alan JohnsonThere are no plans to reassess the provision for field work within science GCSE or A-level. The existing science National Curriculum at Key Stages 1–4, together with current GCSE and A-level syllabuses, encourages field work; there is also a pilot at A-level which places particular emphasis on it. Additionally, all primary and secondary schools are required to make provision for fieldwork for all pupils as part of the Geography curriculum. The Department does not collect information centrally about the provision of science or biology field work opportunities for pupils.
No assessment has been made of the implications for environmental awareness of access to field work as part of the biology curriculum. "Growing Schools" encourages schools to use the 'outdoor classroom' as a resource in all subjects including science. The National Association of Field Studies Officers and the Field Studies Council are members of the National Advisory Group.