Ivan Yates
Question:135 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools running a science programme for pupils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3151/00]
Written Answers. - School Science Programmes.
All teachers in primary schools were issued with a new programme in Science in September 1999 as part of the introduction of the revised curriculum. The programme is set out in two booklets – a curriculum statement, incorporating the aims, objectives and content for each class level and guidelines for teachers on the teaching of the subject. The new science programme comprises four interlinked strands, namely: (1) living things; (2) energy and forces; (3) materials; and (4) environmental care.
The implementation of the revised curriculum will be on a phased basis over four to five years and will be supported by a comprehensive programme of in-career professional development for teachers. The expectation is that most schools will choose to follow the sequence of subject-areas followed in the in-career development programme from year to year. It is planned that in-career professional development in science will form part of the ongoing primary curriculum support programme in the next school year, 2000-2001. However, schools will be free to introduce subject areas as they see fit, taking account of the expertise and interests of their staffs.
In order to encourage schools to incorporate science in their curriculum a new grant scheme for the teaching of science in primary schools was introduced. These grants were paid out in October 1999 and amounted in total to approximately £1.75 million. The size of grant varied with the size of school: however, a minimum grant of £400 was paid to schools with fewer than 50 pupils while schools with more than 500 pupils received the maximum grant of £1,000.
It is not possible at present to quantify the number of primary schools that offer science as a formal module of the curriculum. There is no doubt, however, that their number will continue to grow as teachers become more familiar with the contents of the revised curriculum statements and guidelines and as more and more teachers are given the opportunity of attending in-career development seminars in the subject during the next school year.