Royal Society Responds To Science And Maths A-Level Results, UK

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Article Date: 18 Aug 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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In response to today's A-level results Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society - the UK national academy of science - said:

"Today's results for science and maths A-levels give us reason to be encouraged. Maths and further maths have continued their robust recovery with the numbers of students taking these A-levels increasing for the fifth year in a row. This is a welcome pay-off for the serious efforts made in recent years to boost this subject.

"The embryonic turn-around we saw in physics last year has been consolidated upon with the number of students taking the subject going up by 2.3 per cent this year. We hope this will signal a longer-term turn-around for the subject, although it is disappointing that the percentage of female students studying physics remains small (2).

"It is another good year for chemistry and biology, which both continue the steady increases they've seen in recent years."

The increases in the numbers of students taking maths and science A-level are: biology 2.7 per cent; chemistry 3.5 per cent; physics 2.3 per cent; maths 7.5 per cent; further maths 15.5 per cent .

Martin Rees said: "Aside from these trends, all the students who have succeeded in this year's A-levels deserve to be wholeheartedly congratulated. It's an achievement they should be proud of."

"In the longer term, if we are to see further increases in students taking maths and science A-levels, it is vital that there are enough specialist teachers who can bring these subjects alive to their students. Unless this is the case, the increasing number of students taking maths and the sciences at A-level could erode the already-limited time that specialist teachers can devote to younger students. Inspiring these students will be key to increasing the numbers studying maths and the sciences at A-level in the coming years."

Notes

1. The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. As we prepare for our 350th anniversary in 2010, we are working to achieve five strategic priorities, to:

- Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation
- Influence policymaking with the best scientific advice
- Invigorate science and mathematics education
- Increase access to the best science internationally
- Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery

2. In 2008 female students accounted for 21.91 per cent of students taking A-level physics

The Royal Society, London