Business leaders are calling for bright children to be automatically be entered for ‘Triple science’ at GCSE.
The plan to boost British science and technology skills would increase the number of 16-year-olds taking triple science, covering physics, biology and chemistry, from 7% to 40% - equivalent to 250,000 pupils a year.
CBI research found that 59% of firms face problems recruiting suitably skilled people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). It's a shortfall likely to increase, with the organisation predicting there will be 2 million extra STEM jobs by 2014.
The government has said that from September students getting Level 6 or above in their science SATs will be entitled to study Triple science. Under the CBI’s proposal, 14-year-olds getting Level 6 or above would be automatically entered for Triple science GCSE, but have the ability to opt out and take Double science.
Richard Lambert, the CBI’s Director-General, said: “We need to send an unambiguous message to young people who are good at science that science as a career can be fascinating and worthwhile, and will reward you well. "
The CBI also called on the government to accelerate the pace of its £45 billion programme to improve school buildings and labs.
Main points of the CBI's five-point proposal for science in schools inlcude:
