Pupils suggest that Science lessons should be tougher

National exams are too easy, a group of high-achieving pupils has told David Willetts in a report which called for a new, tougher science GCSE for those pursuing scientific careers.

Scrapping mixed-ability science classes at the start of secondary school and offering pupils the choice of a single, double or triple award course at GCSE would help motivated and talented pupils get the most out of their time at school, the conference concluded.

In contrast, there could be a case for allowing pupils who are uninterested in science to drop the subject earlier than 16, it was claimed.

A summary report was presented to Science Minister David Willetts following the conference of almost 150 students at the Royal Institution's L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre in London late last year.

In the report pupils raised concerns that teacher training is not fit for purpose and urged that newly-qualified teachers be given more support for the benefit of their students.

They suggested the science curriculum be altered to include more theory and less practical work because most classroom exercises focus on following prescribed instructions rather than true experimentation and are of limited value.