Standards in Public Examinations 1975 to 1995
This report, jointly published by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) and Ofsted under the chairmanship of Ron Dearing, presents the findings of an investigation into whether standards in GCSE and A level examinations were maintained in the period up to 1995. The improving examination grades during this period had…
Science and Mathematics in Schools - a Review
This Ofsted publication describes factors affecting the low take-up of science and mathematics post-16 identified for the year 1992-93. These were: the status of science in our culture; the nature of science and mathematics as school subjects; the organisation of schools; the curriculum; science and mathematics teachers; factors…
Making a Success of Human Biology: the Sixth Form College Farnborough
This Ofsted document describes how the Sixth Form College Farnborough has re-introduced A-level human biology while ensuring that students are well aware of course requirements and are properly prepared for a challenging assessment regime. Providing good information about the course, a highly structured programme of study, and plenty…
Improving Science in Colleges
In spring 2011 Ofsted conducted a survey of good practice in science in general further education and sixth form colleges in England. Inspectors visited 15 college science departments to observe teaching and learning and evaluate the quality of provision and departmental leadership and management. This report identifies the factors…
Generic Grade Descriptors and Supplementary Subject
In January 2012 Ofsted implemented a new framework for inspection to be used by inspectors in the Section 5 inspection of schools and academies. At the same time Ofsted published supplementary subject-specific guidance for inspectors on making judgements during visits to schools. The supplementary guidance aligns with the generic…
Outstanding Curriculum Innovation in Science: City and Islington College
This report from Ofsted looks at City and Islington College which is one of the biggest national providers of science in further education. The college has developed a broad range of cutting-edge science provision and established itself as a regional centre of excellence for science. • The college has developed an extensive…
Promoting the Study of Science through Links with Schools: City and Islington College
This Ofsted resource looks at teachers from City and Islington College who stimulate the interest of school students in science and other STEM-related subjects, work in schools with teachers and students and invite them to the college. The college also hosts a careers convention where students meet working scientists and engineers…
Identifying Good Practice: a Survey of Post-16 Science in Colleges and Schools
This report from Ofsted represents the findings from a survey of post-16 science provision in 18 colleges and schools where provision had been judged to be good or outstanding at their previous inspection. Between October 2006 and April 2007 five schools, nine sixth form colleges, one tertiary college and three general further education…
Successful Science
This report from Ofsted draws on the results of visits by inspectors to 94 primary, 94 secondary schools and two special schools between June 2007 and March 2010. These schools were selected broadly to represent the profile of schools in England, but excluded schools in Ofsted’s categories of concern. It also draws on the outcomes…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2001-02: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Conference Report 2002-03: Science
This document from Ofsted was designed to provide the wider science education community with a summary of inspection findings for primary and secondary schools for the academic year 2003-2004. The report drew on the detailed data gathered by Section 10 Inspections and gave not only the current view but changes to achievement over…
Ofsted Subject Conference Report 2001-02: Science
This report from Ofsted is of a one day conference for representatives of LEA areas. The theme was good practice in science investigation and enquiry and how this important part of the primary science curriculum could be further enhanced. The report gives the inspection findings and summary of wider findings. The conference was…
Ofsted Subject Conference Report 2003-04: Science
The purpose of this Ofsted conference was the use of assessment in raising standards of teaching and learning. Workshops drew on good practice from Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three, and provided 31 delegates with the opportunity to work with other professionals on assessment for learning (AfL). The conference built on the inspection…
Ofsted Subject Conference Report 2004-05: Science
These conferences were a collaboration between Ofsted, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the Secondary National Strategy (SNS) and the National Advisers and Inspectors Group for Science (NAIGS). The Programme of Study (PoS) for Key Stage Four science has changed and been reduced to a core. QCA is approving specifications…
Ofsted Subject Reports 1999-00: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2000-01: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2002-03: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2003-04: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 11-19. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2004-05: Secondary Science
This report from Ofsted on secondary science is the last in the series published by Ofsted over several years, based on evidence from whole school inspections and surveys by HMI. It was published in association with in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. It draws on data from Ofsted inspections…
Ofsted Subject Reports 1999-00: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 1998-99: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11 (primary). The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2000-01: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2001-02: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2002-03: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2003-04: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted is one of a series that were published annually in association with the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector. The report gives the main findings of Ofsted concerning the state of science education for students aged from 3-11. The evidence base, which the report is based upon, includes data…
Ofsted Subject Reports 2004-05: Primary Science
This report from Ofsted on primary science is the last in the series published by Ofsted over several years, based on evidence from whole school inspections and surveys by HMI. It draws on data from Ofsted inspections from September 2003 to July 2005. The report also reflects upon changes since Ofsted inspections began, referring…
Developing New Vocational Pathways: Final Report on the Introduction of New GCSEs
In September 2002, eight new General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) courses in vocational subjects were introduced: applied art and design; applied business; engineering; health and social care; ICT; leisure and tourism; manufacturing; and applied science. This report covers the introduction of these courses in schools…
Good Assessment Practice in Science
This report from Ofsted describes how assessment in science is most effective where it is used as a teaching tool as well as a means of judging attainment. Similarly the assessment of practical coursework is not just a means of assigning students to levels but of giving them the information they need to improve their laboratory skills.…
Progress in Key Stage Three Science: Part 1 and Part 2
This report from Ofsted is a review of science in Key Stage Three and is concerned with students’ attainment and progress and the quality of teaching. It is intended to help school managers and teachers improve standards and raise the quality of work in Key Stage Three. The report is based upon evidence form school inspections…
Science in Primary Initial Teacher Training
This report from Ofsted focused on the initial teacher training (ITT) in science for primary teachers. The inspection survey took place during the academic year 2000/01. At the time recent inspections of primary initial teacher training (ITT) had focused on training to teach either english or mathematics and also training in the…
Guidance for Students Studying Science
This report from Ofsted is based on evidence gathered during a rapid response survey. Inspectors visited 45 secondary schools in February 2010 to look at their science curriculum provision at Key Stage Four and to find out how students at the end of Key Stage Three and Key Stage Four were guided towards specific science examination…
Succesful Science
This report from Ofsted draws on the results of visits by inspectors to 94 primary, 94 secondary schools and two special schools between June 2007 and March 2010. These schools were selected broadly to represent the profile of schools in England, but excluded schools in Ofsted’s categories of concern. It also draws on the outcomes…