Science education in England

====Overview of GCSE science====

====Overview of GCSE science====

which can be taken at either foundation tier or higher tier. Although GCSEs are closely linked to KS4, schools actually start tackling the GCSE part of the National Curriculum from year 9 (KS3). This is certainly the case for mathematics and science, and it is because of the vastness of the content to be covered for the GCSEs in those subjects. In the past, there were several science GCSE routes, but in recent years, the number of routes have simplified somewhat, following recent changes to GCSEs. Today, science GCSE can be taken either as a combined single subject (which is worth two GCSE subjects—also known as ''combined'' science) or as the three separate subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology (each worth a single GCSE subject in its own right—also known as ''triple'' science). When biology, chemistry, and physics are taken as separate GCSE subjects, the tiers can be mixed<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/Pearson_Edexcel_GCSE_Sciences_Support_for_tier_entry_decisions.pdf|title=GCSE (9-1) Sciences: Support for Tier Entry Decisions – 2019|author=Pearson Edexcel|date=2019|publisher=Pearson Edexcel|accessdate=1 July 2025}}</ref>. So for instance, a student could take say, biology at higher tier but chemistry at foundation tier. By contrast, tiers cannot be mixed in combined science (that is, all constituent parts must be taken at the same tier).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/Pearson_Edexcel_GCSE_Sciences_Support_for_tier_entry_decisions.pdf|title=GCSE (9-1) Sciences: Support for Tier Entry Decisions – 2019|author=Pearson Edexcel|date=2019|publisher=Pearson Edexcel|accessdate=1 July 2025}}</ref>. Experiments (also called ''practicals'') are compulsory in the GCSE science course, but in different ways across the boards offering GCSE science to English schools. For most boards the results of the practicals do not count towards the final grade in the reformed GCSE (as this is determined entirely by the results of the written examination), but the school/college must submit a signed ''practical science statement'' to the board under which the science is being studied BEFORE the students can take the examination. The statement must declare that all students have completed all the required practicals. The skills and knowledge that should have been acquired from the practicals are subsequently assessed in the GCSE exams, which for most boards are entirely written (as alluded to earlier). For one board ([[Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment|CCEA]]), however, in addition to the examination of practical skills in the written papers, the results of some of the actual practicals do count towards the final grade in the reformed GCSE. Currently, GCSE sciences in England are available from five boards: [[Assessment and Qualifications Alliance|AQA]], [[Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations|OCR]], [[Edexcel]]. [[Eduqas|WJEC-Eduqas]] and CCEA. Although all five boards provide GCSE science to English schools, not all of these boards are based in England: AQA, OCR and Edexcel are based in England, but WJEC-Eduqas is based in Wales while CCEA is based in Northern Ireland. Schools are free to choose any board for their science, and where the three sciences of chemistry, physics and biology are being taken independently at GCSE level, all three sciences need not be taken from the same board. Some boards offer multiple routes for their combined science courses in the reformed GCSE in England.

GCSE science can be taken at either foundation tier or higher tier. Although GCSEs are closely linked to KS4, schools actually start tackling the GCSE part of the National Curriculum from year 9 (KS3). This is certainly the case for mathematics and science, and it is because of the vastness of the content to be covered for the GCSEs in those subjects. In the past, there were several science GCSE routes, but in recent years, the number of routes have simplified somewhat, following recent changes to GCSEs. Today, science GCSE can be taken either as a combined single subject (which is worth two GCSE subjects—also known as ''combined'' science) or as the three separate subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology (each worth a single GCSE subject in its own right—also known as ''triple'' science). When biology, chemistry, and physics are taken as separate GCSE subjects, the tiers can be mixed<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/Pearson_Edexcel_GCSE_Sciences_Support_for_tier_entry_decisions.pdf|title=GCSE (9-1) Sciences: Support for Tier Entry Decisions – 2019|author=Pearson Edexcel|date=2019|publisher=Pearson Edexcel|accessdate=1 July 2025}}</ref>. So for instance, a student could take say, biology at higher tier but chemistry at foundation tier. By contrast, tiers cannot be mixed in combined science (that is, all constituent parts must be taken at the same tier).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Science/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/Pearson_Edexcel_GCSE_Sciences_Support_for_tier_entry_decisions.pdf|title=GCSE (9-1) Sciences: Support for Tier Entry Decisions – 2019|author=Pearson Edexcel|date=2019|publisher=Pearson Edexcel|accessdate=1 July 2025}}</ref>. Experiments (also called ''practicals'') are compulsory in the GCSE science course, but in different ways across the boards offering GCSE science to English schools. For most boards the results of the practicals do not count towards the final grade in the reformed GCSE (as this is determined entirely by the results of the written examination), but the school/college must submit a signed ''practical science statement'' to the board under which the science is being studied BEFORE the students can take the examination. The statement must declare that all students have completed all the required practicals. The skills and knowledge that should have been acquired from the practicals are subsequently assessed in the GCSE exams, which for most boards are entirely written (as alluded to earlier). For one board ([[Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment|CCEA]]), however, in addition to the examination of practical skills in the written papers, the results of some of the actual practicals do count towards the final grade in the reformed GCSE. Currently, GCSE sciences in England are available from five boards: [[Assessment and Qualifications Alliance|AQA]], [[Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations|OCR]], [[Edexcel]]. [[Eduqas|WJEC-Eduqas]] and CCEA. Although all five boards provide GCSE science to English schools, not all of these boards are based in England: AQA, OCR and Edexcel are based in England, but WJEC-Eduqas is based in Wales while CCEA is based in Northern Ireland. Schools are free to choose any board for their science, and where the three sciences of chemistry, physics and biology are being taken independently at GCSE level, all three sciences need not be taken from the same board. Some boards offer multiple routes for their combined science courses in the reformed GCSE in England.

====Outline of GCSE science routes====

====Outline of GCSE science routes====