The exams regulator is sending out the “wrong message” about the value of practical science skills by dropping controlled assessments at GCSE, school leaders have said.
Ofqual last week confirmed its plans to change the way that practical science skills are assessed at GCSE level.
The new approach will use written exam questions in place of controlled assessment.
Each exam board will be required to specify a minimum number of practical activities that students must complete – set no lower than eight in individual science and 16 for combined science.
Each school will then have to confirm that they have enabled students to do “the full range of practical work” and the students themselves will have to keep a record.
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