Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:44 pm on 18 May 2022.
Thank you very much, Minister. Firstly, I want to thank you for the entertainment you provided yesterday with you breaking out a beat with the First Minister about your musical programme. I will be asking you a question on that very soon in future. But, for now, Minister, you'll be aware of the concerns that have been expressed by academics about plans to replace physics, chemistry and biology as separate subjects and to replace them with one integrated science award. One academic warned, and I quote, that a 'dumbing down' of science at GCSE level could see Wales
'miss out on some brilliant scientists in the future', and widen existing skills gap in STEM subjects. Minister, I've spoken to a number of students on various levels and they don't want to have this programme put in front of them. They want to have the option of being able to have one science to study, such as biology, chemistry or physics, whatever their passion is. The Institution of Engineering and Technology has called on the UK Government to address the skills gap in England by embedding engineering and technology skills into primary school education. So, Minister, my question is: what assurance can you provide that changes to the teaching of science do not amount to dumbing down, what do you say to those students who want to specialise in just one science, and will you consider the proposal to embed engineering and technology skills into primary school education? Thank you.