A move to axe practical coursework from science A-level assessments in England goes against advice from the country’s most respected scientific bodies, a senior MP has warned.
Ministers have pushed ahead with the plans against almost unanimous opposition from organisations such as the Royal Society and the government’s own Council for Science and Technology, said Andrew Miller, the chair of the Commons science and technology committee.
Ofqual, the exams watchdog, has decided to remove lab experiments from A-level assessments in favour of a practical exam that will count towards a separate qualification. The new practical course will be taught from next year and carries only a pass or fail grade.
It will be possible for students to receive the highest A* grade in a science exam even if they fail the practical certificate. The first of the revised exams are to be taken in 2017.
“I am astounded that when the current decision on A-level practical science is receiving so much criticism, that Ofqual are ploughing ahead regardless,” Miller said. “When consultations encounter a widespread concern there should be a serious rethink on the direction of travel.”
Miller fears that the removal of practicals from science A-level gradings could lead to schools neglecting the teaching of experimental skills that are crucial for those who want to pursue careers in the sciences.
The Labour MP raised his concerns in a video letter to Nick Gibb, the minister for school reform, after convening a meeting with some of the country’s leading authorities on science education.
In the film Miller pleaded with Gibb to intervene: “I urge ministers to listen to those people who say that this decision by Ofqual won’t deal with the problems that Ofqual identified with science teaching.”
But in a reply letter, the minister said he would not try to stop Ofqual. “The responsibility for how performance in qualifications is assessed lies with Ofqual. It is important that the Department for Education does not undermine that independence,” he wrote.
About a quarter of A-level courses in physics, biology and chemistry are made up of practical work. The plans from Ofqual, which will be extended to GCSEs too, aim to deal with alleged malpractice, where cheating and generous marking from teachers see students scoring much higher in their practicals than in their written exams.
But Miller argues that Ofqual’s reforms will fail to solve the problem. “I have no doubt that these changes will clean up the grade distributions in science A levels, but the concerns of malpractice among teachers have been side-stepped rather than addressed,” he said.
“I am most concerned that students will now be forced to do science practicals that both they and their teachers know will have no value as far as qualifications go. There is no point going on about doing more practicals if the recognised value of those practicals is vastly reduced,” he said.
He continued: “I have deep concerns about ministers who fail to listen to the wider community and appear to hide behind the decisions of independent bodies claiming that they have no influence. Ministers are there to provide democratic accountability not just to rubber stamp the decisions of regulatory bodies.”
