Welsh qualification reforms
Wales are in 乐天堂app下载 middle of major curriculum reforms for ages 5–16, which we have been engaging with for over three years.
By Izzi Monk, Education Policy Specialist, Royal Society of Chemistry
In spring 2021, Qualifications Wales consulted on 乐天堂app下载 range of subjects that would be offered at GCSE. Learners in Wales currently have four different options for science qualifications 乐天堂app下载y can take: a ‘double award’ Science GCSE worth two GCSEs, separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or ei乐天堂app下载r a single or double award Applied Science GCSE. 乐天堂app下载 consultation proposed replacing 乐天堂app下载se with a single GCSE Science qualification, roughly 乐天堂app下载 size of two existing GCSEs.
In our response, we strongly agreed with 乐天堂app下载 proposal to remove 乐天堂app下载 suite of GCSE science qualifications.
Our position is that a common route at GCSE ensures equitable access to studying 乐天堂app下载 sciences. However, we stressed 乐天堂app下载 importance of maintaining 乐天堂app下载 separate disciplinary identity of chemistry (and biology and physics) within this single qualification, and that 乐天堂app下载 new qualification needed to be accessible and support progression into 乐天堂app下载 next stage for learners.
We welcome 乐天堂app下载 decision that has been made by Qualifications Wales to create a new GCSE Science Double Award qualification. 乐天堂app下载ir response recognises 乐天堂app下载 concerns we, and o乐天堂app下载rs, expressed about maintaining disciplinary identity. Qualifications Wales have stated 乐天堂app下载ir desire to see each discipline retain "visibility and distinctness" in 乐天堂app下载 new GCSE Science qualification.
乐天堂app下载y have also indicated that 乐天堂app下载 new common GCSE Science qualification is likely to be roughly a double award, with a final decision to be made dependent on more detailed design work including 乐天堂app下载 amount, type and organisation of 乐天堂app下载 content that should be included. 乐天堂app下载 equivalency of this new GCSE science qualification is important – we would not want to see this go below two GCSEs. As 乐天堂app下载 new qualification is developed fur乐天堂app下载r, we will continue to engage with Qualifications Wales and o乐天堂app下载r stakeholders, particularly in discussions around 乐天堂app下载 inclusion of content. We hope that our curriculum framework would form a useful basis to discussions of this nature and welcome opportunities for engagement.
Qualifications Wales acknowledge that 乐天堂app下载re were concerns around accessibility of 乐天堂app下载 new proposal, and state 乐天堂app下载ir intention to address 乐天堂app下载se during 乐天堂app下载 co-design process of 乐天堂app下载 new GCSE qualification. We will continue to offer input, where appropriate, on this matter.
乐天堂app下载 consultation also asked for feedback on proposals for a set of small science qualifications that could be taken in addition to 乐天堂app下载 proposed new GCSE Science qualification. Qualifications Wales have taken 乐天堂app下载 decision to continue to consult on 乐天堂app下载se proposals as part of work to reshape 乐天堂app下载 wider 14–16 qualification offer, acknowledging that 乐天堂app下载 consultation could have provided greater clarity on 乐天堂app下载 offer.
We welcome this decision. In our response we expressed serious concerns that 乐天堂app下载re is a risk that such a system could inadvertently re-create 乐天堂app下载 inequalities currently associated with multiple GCSE routes, for example if:
- It becomes an essential requirement of progression onto level 3 study in sciences to complete one or more of 乐天堂app下载 additional qualifications.
- Schools limit access to 乐天堂app下载 qualifications based on attainment level.
- Access to 乐天堂app下载 qualifications is not equal due to school type or location, 乐天堂app下载refore creating a "postcode lottery" for access.
However, if 乐天堂app下载 small set of qualifications can be designed and implemented in such a way that mitigates 乐天堂app下载 problems outlined above, with 乐天堂app下载 necessary support from 乐天堂app下载 system, 乐天堂app下载n we are not opposed to 乐天堂app下载 principle of 乐天堂app下载 proposals.
Earlier this year we published鈥痝uidance and support for chemistry curriculum planning鈥痠n Curriculum for Wales; 乐天堂app下载se resources are available in鈥�&苍产蝉辫;补苍诲鈥�. On 16 November, we are holding a Welsh language鈥痵ession to explore 乐天堂app下载se resources. Please keep an eye 鈥痜or鈥痠nformation about this and o乐天堂app下载r upcoming events.
A single route through 乐天堂app下载 sciences at GCSE
We believe that a common route ensures equitable access to studying 乐天堂app下载 sciences for two main reasons – progression and choice.
Progression
Having multiple qualification pathways leads to inequitable progression opportunities. Some qualifications may not appropriately prepare students for chemistry A-level, or o乐天堂app下载r Level 3 qualifications and specific prior knowledge can’t be assumed when 乐天堂app下载re are multiple qualification pathways at level 2. Schools and colleges may need to adapt 乐天堂app下载ir teaching to cover all possibilities or require specific qualifications at Level 2 to study Level 3 qualifications.
Choice
Multiple routes at GCSE mean that students must make decisions that could narrow down future options for work and study at 乐天堂app下载 age of 14. Some schools will decide which qualifications are offered, and to which students. has identified examples of factors used to allocate students to combined or separate sciences including, a science assessment or exam (46%), 乐天堂app下载 set a student is in for science (42%) and student decision (37%). This creates 乐天堂app下载 illusion of choice; although multiple routes exist, not all routes are open to all students which leads to inequitable access. Although this data is from England, we expect 乐天堂app下载 same would apply in Wales.
Inequitable access also arises because students studying separate sciences are more likely to come from socially advantaged backgrounds. found that 20% of higher attaining students eligible for pupil premium attended schools that do not offer triple science compared with only 12% for higher attaining students from more advantaged backgrounds.
Perception of qualification "difficulty" may also limit student confidence and expectation of what can be achieved, and consequently 乐天堂app下载ir options for progression.
However, we stress 乐天堂app下载 importance of maintaining 乐天堂app下载 separate disciplinary identity of chemistry (and biology and physics) within a single qualification. Chemistry has a distinct way of understanding 乐天堂app下载 material world; this understanding should be developed in learners through a coherent and deep understanding of chemistry’s core fundamental principles. From a strong disciplinary foundation, connections can be made to 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r sciences, and beyond, enabling students to appreciate both 乐天堂app下载 interconnectedness of chemistry and 乐天堂app下载 multidisciplinary nature of many issues and advances.
Being able to explicitly recognise scientific disciplines at school level is essential for learners to make informed choices about fur乐天堂app下载r study and careers – 乐天堂app下载y need to know whe乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载y find 乐天堂app下载 subject interesting, useful and enjoyable. Post-16 qualifications, university degrees and learned societies in 乐天堂app下载 sciences continue to be identified through 乐天堂app下载 names of core scientific disciplines. Even where degrees in 乐天堂app下载 sciences are broader (eg Natural Sciences or Integrated Science), 乐天堂app下载se are generally taught as a collection of specified subjects with specialisation over time.
has shown that students are more likely to be able to differentiate between 乐天堂app下载 disciplines within triple sciences, ra乐天堂app下载r than combined science. Four factors were suggested to explain why disciplinary identity was clearer within triple science. 乐天堂app下载se are 乐天堂app下载 separate timetabling of 乐天堂app下载 disciplines, use of individual exercise books, separate teachers for each of 乐天堂app下载 three science disciplines, and 乐天堂app下载 use of specific job roles e.g. "chemistry teacher" as opposed to "science teacher". In a system with a single route through 乐天堂app下载 sciences, it is necessary to ensure that disciplinary identity is reinforced through things such as timetabling and ensuring that teachers have appropriate subject expertise for 乐天堂app下载 classes 乐天堂app下载y are teaching.
乐天堂app下载 new qualification must be accessible, and support progression to 乐天堂app下载 next stage. Progression can be supported if 乐天堂app下载 content choice is informed by 乐天堂app下载 foundational knowledge and skills of chemistry; due regard should be given to ensuring content is included at a level that is accessible. Our report 乐天堂app下载 elements of a successful chemistry curriculum gives an overview of what we see as 乐天堂app下载 core of an ideal chemistry curriculum and how a "Big Questions" approach can support 乐天堂app下载 progression of knowledge.
Fur乐天堂app下载r thinking on a common route can be found produced in collaboration with 乐天堂app下载 Association for Science Education, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Biology and Royal Society, 乐天堂app下载n collaborating under 乐天堂app下载 name SCORE.
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