newsaddicts
10-12-2006, 03:21 AM
The new GCSE science curriculum has been branded "sound bite science" which takes a back-to-front approach.
Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College London, is among the scientists to attack the core qualification, in which pupils discuss topical issues.
He warned a "dumbed down syllabus" may stop those who did not study chemistry, physics and biology individually from getting into good universities.
The Department for Education said the new GCSEs did involve academic rigour.
In recent years most pupils have studied a "combined science" double GCSE, rather than separate science subjects which are largely confined to grammar and independent schools.
Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial College London, is among the scientists to attack the core qualification, in which pupils discuss topical issues.
He warned a "dumbed down syllabus" may stop those who did not study chemistry, physics and biology individually from getting into good universities.
The Department for Education said the new GCSEs did involve academic rigour.
In recent years most pupils have studied a "combined science" double GCSE, rather than separate science subjects which are largely confined to grammar and independent schools.