26/08/08 Demos
CaSE met with Demos to discuss their projects looking at the internationalisation of science and engineering and the implications and policy responses for the UK.

21/08/08 CaSE celebrates increase in triple science results and argues for more students to be offered it
CaSE today celebrates the increase of about a third in entries into separate science GCSEs. Numbers entering biology GCSE increased 35% to 85,521, with chemistry up 29% to 76,656 and physics up 29% to 75,383, while overall entries decreased 2.7%. Dr Hilary Leevers commented: “We are absolutely delighted to at last see substantial rises in GCSE results for triple science. CaSE has campaigned for triple science to be available to all students and, as more students are now being offered triple science, we are pleased and relieved to see that students are choosing to study science to the highest level at GCSE."
Information obtained from the Department for Children, Schools and Families by CaSE through a Freedom of Information request revealed that over half of schools that did not enter students into triple science in 2007 now already offer it. Worringly, a fifth of schools that did not enter students into triple science in 2007 have no plans to offer it now and another fifth have not decided whether to or not.
Read the full press release

14/08/08 CaSE on the BBC
CaSE's Assistant Director Dr Hilary Leevers spoke on BBC News 24 about today's A level numbers for science and mathematics. During the interview she raised the CaSE proposal for awarding greater UCAS points for students studying science and mathematics.
Read a transcript of the interview

14/08/08 Congratulations to the increasing numbers of A level students in science and mathematics
CaSE was delighted that the small rises seen in last year’s A level entries into physics and chemistry were sustained this year and extended to biology. Entries in biology increased by 1447, chemistry by 1395 and physics by 630. CaSE particularly celebrated the combined increase of 5700 students in mathematics and further mathematics. However, CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, urged caution: “While we are obviously delighted to see these rises...the proportion of actual entries has unfortunately not increased in any of the sciences. The increases reflect an overall rise in the number of entries. There was an increase in the proportion of entries that were mathematics and further mathematics."
Read the full press release

13/08/08 Science Education
Dr Hilary Leevers met with Derek Bell, Chief Executive of the Association for Science Education to discuss key areas of concern in secondary science education.

08/08/08 Latest Teaching Figures
CaSE continues to express alarm over the latest teacher training figures. At the start of the year, applications for secondary physics PGCEs were 30% down compared with the same time last year, they were also 17% down in chemistry, 25% down in biology and 15% down in mathematics, but were comparable for general science. An increase in last minute applicants have reduced these differences to 18% in physics and just 3% in mathematics. Dr Hilary Leevers, CaSE's Assistant Director, commented "It is possible that the ecnomic downturn has attracted applicants into teaching for its job security. However, we must not depend upon this effect and must remember that the number of recruits that we had last year in the shortage subjects, namely physics, chemistry and mathematics, were no way near the levels required to alleviate the teaching shortages experienced by schools. It is vital that the Government continues with its drive towards recruitment in these critical subjects."
Read more in this week's Times Educational Supplement.

04/08/08 CaSE responds to the DIUS Single Equality Scheme Consultation
To view CaSE's response please follow this link.

04/08/08 CaSE proposals to improve the uptake of secondary science and maths
CaSE today released a press release outlining their proposals for improving the uptake of seconday science and maths, particularly among disadvantaged schools. The proposals include higher UCAS points for STEM subjects and a STEM diversity bursary. Dr Hilary Leevers, Assistant Director of CaSE commented: “We need to take a more radical approach to increase uptake of science and mathematics in schools and beyond. There are many great new initiatives, but even taken all together they are simply not having enough impact. Policies that widen participation are not only morally right, and help to diversify the workforce, but often have the greatest and most efficient potential for impact.”
Read the full press release

01/08/08 CaSE publishes its Annual Review
Today CaSE published its Annual Review. As well highlighting the organization's achievements over the last twelve months, the report also outlines CaSE's strategy for the future.
Read the full Annual Review