| |
Home
News Centre
Popular
Questions
Publications
FoI
Publications Scheme
Research
Consultations
Our
Strategy
Speeches
Statistics
Inside
the Department
Cymraeg/Welsh
Links
Contact Us
Help
User guide
|
|
£140m BOOST TO SCIENCE AND MATHS TEACHING IN SCHOOLS
24 January 2008Ministers want lessons to be more exciting for budding scientists
Schools Minister Jim Knight today outlined a £140 million strategy to educate the next generation of scientists and mathematicians and help recruit and train more science and maths teachers. The Government wants the very best teachers to increase the number of young people opting for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and following a related career which will help the UK compete in the global economy.
And it also wants to ensure that lessons are lively for budding scientists, with more "flash bang" excitement to bring these fascinating subjects to life while maintaining academic rigour.The £140 million package over the next three years is more than double the amount spent between 2005 and 2008, underlining the government’s commitment to increasing the number of science and maths teachers, improving results at GCSE and increasing the number of young people studying these subjects post-16. Schools Minister, Jim Knight said: "Britain has a great tradition for producing world class scientists and engineers and I want to not only maintain but enhance that. When I visit schools I see that science and maths lessons can be exciting and inspiring. I want more science in action in the classroom, more flash bang to enthuse budding scientists. “We want more young people studying science and maths A levels, that is why we are investing more than ever in these important subjects. As well as learning the periodic table students must be able to experience the excitement of practical experiments.”The £140m package for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics includes:• £31 million for recruitment and retention including £11.4 million so that teachers can retrain to become maths, physics and chemistry specialists - every teacher who retrains will receive a financial incentive of £5,000;• £50 million for continuing professional development including:£18 million to fund the regional science learning centres plus continued funding for the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics;£4.5 million for schools to encourage them to release teachers for professional development at our science learning centres; • £34 million to help boost the number of young people studying science STEM subjects post-16 including up to £9 million so that more pupils can take the three GCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology;• £9 million to improve pupils’ learning experience through enhancement and enrichment activities including doubling the number of science and engineering clubs in schools from 250 to 500.John Holman, Director, National Science Learning Centre, said:“It is tremendous news that the government is investing in the continuing work of the Science Learning Centres, so they can reach even more teachers to update their science knowledge and teaching skills. This investment in science teaching is an investment in young people and in the country’s economic future."Professor Celia Hoyles, Director National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics said:“I am absolutely delighted at the news that the government will continue to support The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). Mathematics is at the heart of so much of education across all phases. It is a life skill and it provides a unique and powerful perspective on the world. We must engage more learners in mathematics and nurture their mathematical potential. We in the Centre are playing our part in furthering this crucial agenda by working with partners to enhance opportunities for mathematics-specific continuing professional development for all teachers. "Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
Work already being done to improve teacher training includes: • A special partnership (called Transition to Teaching) between employers and the Training and Development Agency for Schools to attract more scientists and mathematicians into teaching. The programme will be formally launched in the spring and will begin training new teachers from the autumn;• Continuing to pay the teacher training bursary for maths and science (£9,000) and the golden hello (£5,000); giving additional £1,000 payments to ITT providers for each physics or chemistry trainee teacher they recruit; offering additional courses to enhance physics, chemistry and maths subject skills for those entering teaching who do not have a recent degree in the subject; expanding the student associate scheme to give science and maths undergraduates a taste of teaching with a view to encouraging them to pursue teaching as their career. The PISA study on the attitudes of 15 year olds to science found:• 75 per cent agreed that they study science because they know it is useful for them;• 71 per cent agreed that making an effort in science subjects is worth it because this will help them in the work they want to do later on;• 71 per cent agreed that studying science subjects is worthwhile for them because what they learn will improve their career prospects;• 54 per cent agreed that what they learn in their science subjects is important for them because they need this for what they want to study later on.The report also found that although English teenagers say that studying science is useful for their futures, fewer say that they want to work in science-related careers or to study science. Although students agree that science is useful and beneficial, most do not wish to be involved with it in their future lives. • 34 per cent agreed that they would like to work in a career involving science;• 33 per cent agreed that they would like to study science after secondary school.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2008/0017
|
|
|
|
