THE Association for Science Education in Britain last week launched
a campaign to persuade 13-year-olds in state schools in England and Wales
to opt for the fuller of two science courses on offer to them as part of
the statutory national curriculum. The fuller course, called Model A (or
鈥榙ouble science鈥�), occupies one-fifth of a pupil鈥檚 timetable. The diluted
version, Model B (or 鈥榮ingle science鈥�), occupies only one-sixth of the timetable.
The ASE鈥檚 advice, in a leaflet sent to all governors of English and
Welsh secondary schools, is supported by some of Britain鈥檚 biggest companies
and institutions 鈥� including ICI, IBM, the Royal Society, BP and the Engineering
Council. They fear that industry鈥檚 shortage of scientists and technologists
will worsen if too many pupils opt for single science.
