Primary science survey

During July 2011, the Wellcome Trust ran an online survey, working with the National Science Learning Centre.

We asked primary school teachers on their database for their views on the status of primary science and the opportunities available to their students and themselves. We also asked how these things have changed since the removal of external science tests (SATs) in England in 2009.

Responses from 465 teachers indicated that the removal of SATs had an impact on the teaching of science in many primary schools. Furthermore, it seems worryingly likely that negative changes (e.g. reduced lesson time) are more frequent than positive ones (e.g. reduced ''teaching to the test''). These findings increase the urgency of our work supporting primary science.

The findings from the Primary Science Survey Report [PDF 216KB] increased the urgency of our work to support primary science.