£12.1 million to support science in schools

The government has announced a £12.1 million funding package to support the teaching of science in English schools.

The money will be used to provide continued professional development for science teachers, support schools to share best practice and offer tailored in-school support.

The programme will be delivered through a network of national science learning partnerships and also support schools to encourage more teenagers to take GCSE triple science - physics, chemistry and biology.

The funding was announced after the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 report found that 28 per cent of pupils in England hope to be working in a science-related career by the time they are 30 - a significant increase compared to 16 per cent in 2006.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “We are determined to give all young people the world-class education they need to fulfil their potential. It is encouraging to see so many young people setting their ambitions high, as we know science is valued by employers and is linked to higher earnings.

“Studying science offers a wide range of options following school - whether that’s a career in medicine, engineering or teaching science in the classroom these are the vital skills needed for the future productivity and economic prosperity of this country. This extra funding will further support high-quality science teaching in our schools.”