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. Interestingly the actual grade performance of students increased in all the separate sciences, so that around half now get A or A*s. Overall GCSEs 21% achieved an A or A*, compared with 49% in biology (up from 45% in 2007), 53% in chemistry (up from 47%), and 52% in physics (up from 47%). This shows that there are many more students who would still do well to take the more challenging triple science option."
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. Hilary Leevers went on to so “CaSE wants to see that the Government ensures that all students have the opportunity to study triple science GCSEs as they are entitled to.”
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.We are concerned that gender differences have been accentuated this year with just 46 of the 630 additional entries in physics being attributed to females and 239 out of the 1395 in chemistry. This is really disappointing given recent efforts excite girls about science and also given how well they actually perform; females outperform males in mathematics and all the sciences and particularly in physics. Gender balances did improve in mathematics, with more female candidates and in biology with more male candidates."
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

22/07/08 Meeting with IMechE
CaSE Director Nick Dusic today met with Colin Brown from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

21/07/08 Concerns over mathematics teaching
New figures announced by the teachers Training and Development Agency (TDA) illustrate the continued rise in degree class for new teachers. However, these data fail to take into account the corresponding rise in degree class in general – there is little to suggest that teaching is attracting a more academically capable slice of the graduate pie. An average of 58% of secondary school trainee teachers had attained a 2.1 or 1st degree class, but the corresponding figure was 49% for the sciences and 40% for mathematics. This represents a rise of 1% in the sciences from last year, but a worrying decline of 2% in mathematics. Furthermore, 15% of mathematics trainees had just a 3rd or pass grade (compared to 10% in science). Mathematics also saw the greatest drop out from teacher training, of 18.5%, compared with 15.7% in science and 15% overall. At a time when secondary student interest in mathematics is increasing it is vital that the right teachers are in place. Currently, only 74% of mathematics teacher have a post-A level mathematics qualification. The Government target is for 95% of mathematics lessons to be delivered by a mathematics specialist, but this was only the case in 84% of lessons in 2007, down from 88% in 2002, with large variation depending on school-type. While the Government has introduced many new policies to address teaching shortages, none are having the scale of impact necessary to actually improve the situation in schools. In fact, it is clearly worsening. More effective initiatives must be introduced to make teaching a more attractive option to skilled mathematics graduates who are often lured to more lucrative work in the financial sector.

18/07/08 DIUS Consultation
CaSE welcomed the launch of the DIUS consultation on “Science and Society” and will be responding to it, particularly on how to increase participation of science and diversity in it, and on how best to improve interaction between academics and policy makers. Please contact CaSE with any comments that you wish us to consider.
Read the consultation

16/07/08 Meeting with LandRover
Nick Dusic and David Hawksett met with a representative from LandRover

15/07/08 Meeting with Bill Rammell MP
CaSE met with Bill Rammell, Minister for Further and Higher Education. It was an interesting and constructive meeting and CaSE was able to bring the concerns of our members to his attention, particularly in the areas of international work, higher education and liaison with the Department of Children, Schools, and Families. CaSE outlined the key issues raised at the recent Opinion Forum on International Scientists and Engineers, particularly regarding the new points based visas systems, before the Minister went on to meet colleagues at the Home Office later in the day. The Minister requested more information on some of CaSE’s suggestions for incentives to increase uptake of STEM subjects, namely a targeted system of bursaries to schools with low input into higher education and awarding additional UCAS points for STEM subjects.

14/07/08 Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry
Drawing on the views communicated directly to CaSE, and those voiced at the Opinion Forum on International Scientists and Engineers, CaSE submitted evidence to The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee inquiry on 'Managing Migration: the Points-Based System'.

14/07/2008 Meeting with AMRC
Nick Dusic met with Simon Denegri of the Association of Medical Research Charities to discuss common concerns.

09/07/08 Science Diplomas
Hilary Leevers participated in a workshop organised by the Science Diploma Development Partnership (SDDP). CaSE admires the goals of the diploma: to provide a broad based understanding of science with a core of mathematics, engaging students by teaching in relevant contexts, and to eliminate the current division between vocational and academic qualifications. However, we are seriously concerned at some of the practical issues – the tight timetable, the organisational complexity, the collaborative requirements, its unclear status for university entrance, and, especially, the additional pressures that it will put on already over-stretched science and mathematics teachers.

09/07/08 CaSE met with a representative from BT Group.

08/07/08 HM Treasury
CaSE attended the Treasury's summer party. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's speech mentioned the importance of science and the Government's doubling of the science budget. Commenting CaSE's Director, Nick Dusic, said "it is critical that government and industry continues its investment in science and engineering during economic downturns, as it is critical for long-term economic prosperity."

08/07/08 CaSE's Executive Committee met today.

07/07/08 CaSE responds to the DIUS High Level Skills Consultation

07/07/08 Science Budget Allocations
CaSE sent a briefing to MPs in advance of the Science Budget Allocations debate in the House of Commons. Phil Willis MP, chair of the IUSS Committee, mentioned CaSE in his speech regarding the application of the Haldane Principle. CaSE is campaigning to ensure that Haldane Principle, which supports the independence of Research Councils, is upheld and that the Government takes responsibility for its decisions.
CaSE briefing

07/07/08 International Scientists and Engineers
CaSE held its 9th Opinion Forum, which was on Attracting, Educating and Collaborating with International Scientists and Engineers. This project is being sponsored by the British Council. The keynote speech was delivered by Phil Willis MP, chair of the IUSS Committee. Other speakers were from DIUS, the British Council, Universities UK, the Work Foundation and Research Councils UK. CaSE will be writing a policy document on the subject over the summer, which will incorporate input from the meeting.
Find out more and view the presentations

04/07/08 CaSE held a strategy day to discuss the results of a recent membership survey and plan for the future.

03/07/00 European Research Area
CaSE attended a Nesta meeting on the European Research Area. Commenting, Nick Dusic, said "CaSE supports the Government's proposal to increase the proportion of the European budget going to research. However, it is critical that the national and European funding complement each other. CaSE will examine proposed changes to European research to ensure that it supports science and engineering in the UK."

02/07/08 CaSE met with a representative from IBM.

01/07/08 CaSE's Director, Nick Dusic, met with Willie Rennie MP.

26/06/08 Save British Science
Ian Pearson MP, Minister for Science, used the creation of Save British Science, now the Campaign for Science & Engineering, to question the Conservative’s record on science in response to a question by Adam Afriyie MP, Shadow Minister for Science, about the STFC funding crisis. Commenting CaSE’s Director, Nick Dusic, said ”Save British Science was formed in response to underinvestment in science by Conservative Governments. Although Labour Governments have increased the science budget over the last decade, there is still a long way to go before the Government achieves its target of 2.5% of GDP being invested in R&D. CaSE is looking for all parties to put forward ambitious funding and policy proposals to make the UK a world leader in science and engineering. The STFC funding crisis has put the UK’s standing in particle physics and astronomy in jeopardy. The Government needs to take its share of the responsibility as it agreed the STFC’s funding settlement and the delivery plan that created this mess. It is now time for a solution to the funding crisis before ‘save’ is needed to be used again in the science community.”

25/06/08 Biosecurity
Commenting on the IUSS Committee report on Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories CaSE’s Director, Nick Dusic, said “The ongoing running cost of any laboratory needs to be factored in before it is built, but this is especially true for high containment laboratories. The Government needs to increase its investment in its laboratories and staff so that the UK can successfully carry out research into human and animal pathogens.”

24/06/08 Laboratory of Molecular Biology
CaSE welcomed the announcement by John Denham that the LMB will receive funding necessary to complete its expansion and redevelopment.

23/06/08 QAA Report
In three Outcomes from institutional audit papers published by the QAA it found evidence for solid achievement but some worries in assessment and marking practices, external examiners reports and the rapid growth in the recruitment of international students to higher education. CaSE will be examining issues regarding the recruitment of international students in its forthcoming Opinion Forum on Attracting, Educating and Collaborating with International Scientists and Engineers.

19/06/08 Energy Research
Commenting on the IUSS Committee report on Renewable Electricity-Generation Technologies CaSE’s Director, Nick Dusic, said “I support the Committee’s recommendation that EPSRC funding should not be earmarked for certain initiatives by Government, such as the Energy Technologies Institute. DIUS and BERR need to work together and fund departmental initiatives from their own R&D budgets and leave the Science Budget to the discretion of the Research Councils.”

18/06/08 CaSE attended the Rolls-Royce Science Prize.

17/06/08 Government's response to Science Budget Allocations Report
CaSE welcomed the Government's commitment to fundamental research and the Haldane Principle within its response to the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee's report on the Science Budget Allocations. However, it remains deeply concerned both about the process and the implications of the 2008-2011 science budget allocations. Commenting on the Government's response, Nick Dusic, CaSE's Director, said "The STFC funding crisis has cast light on the science budget allocation process. The Government should have responded by agreeing to make the process transparent by publishing any guidance to Research Councils. Without this information we do not know if the Haldane Principle is being applied in practice and who should be held accountable when problems arise. Problems have arisen due to the STFC's funding allocation and delivery plan and it is critical that the Government and the STFC resolve any issues identified by the Wakeham Review."

17/06/08 Science and Mathematics Education
The evidence from Ofsted's report on Success in Science and the DCSF's Review of Mathematics backs up CaSE's long standing position that science and mathematics teachers need to be trained in the subjects they teach. CaSE welcomes various Government proposals to improve the state of science and mathematics teaching, but it must act with greater urgency if we are going to have the skilled population we need for the future.

06/06/08 Nick Dusic, CaSE's Director, met with a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to discuss the Science Budget Allocations, Innovation White Paper and CaSE's forthcoming Opinion Forum on International Scientists and Engineers.

03/06/08 CaSE attended the launch of Darwin200 at the Natural History Museum.

03/06/08 School Survey
CaSE was concerned by the findings of the School Survey published today. The survey found that there is still a long way to go before there are enough trained science and mathematics teachers. Commenting on the report, CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, said: “It is vitally important that the Government continues to introduce more measures to increase the number of specialist science and mathematics teachers. Unfortunately, the various initiatives currently running have not yet had the required level of impact.”
read CaSE comment

02/06/08 Report on Mathematics
CaSE attended the launch of the Reform report on The Value of Mathematics. Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, commented on CaSE's work during his speech. After the event, David Hawksett, CaSE Membership Officer, said "They say you cannot lie with numbers and the conclusions of Reform’s report were frighteningly clear. According to the report, the shallowness of most maths teaching has led to a grave shortage of higher level mathematicians with knock on recruitment problems in science, engineering and the financial sector. If this trend cannot be reversed then we are, in the words of one delegate, ‘in big trouble’."
read the report

29/05/08 DIUS Annual Report
CaSE welcomed the publication of the DIUS's Annual Report. Commenting CaSE's Director, Nick Dusic, said "The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) needs to become a champion of science and engineering across government. Going forward DIUS needs to work closer with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to encourage private sector investment in R&D and the Department for Children, Schools and Families on science education in schools. We look forward to working with the Department so that it delivers upon its aim of making the UK a world leader in science and engineering."

21/05/08 Lord Sainsbury on Further Education
CaSE's Assistant Director, Hilary Leevers, participated in a lively breakfast meeting with Lord Sainsbury on the importance of Further Education, hosted by NESTA. Afterwards she commented "While there is much concern about the shortage of highly-skilled STEM workers, these shortages are actually more pronounced at the technician level in many areas."

21/05/08 Haldane Principle
Writing in today's Research Fortnight CaSE's Director Nick Dusic has called for a strengthening of the Government's interpretation of the Haldane Principle to support the independence of the scientific endeavour and the accountability of government.
read the article

20/05/08 The BA Science Communication Conference
CaSE's Director, Nick Dusic, was a panelist discussing "engaging in policy with the purpose of explaining science". The session was organised by Newton’s Apple and chaired by Alok Jha (The Guardian). The other panelists were Dr Stephen Axford (DIUS), Dr Tony Whitehead (DIUS) and Dr Ian Gibson MP.

20/05/08 Science and the Welsh Assembly
CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, represented CaSE at this year's Science and the Welsh Assembly organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Jane Davidson, AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, gave the keynote address emphasising the importance of evidence-based policy making and assuring the participants that her door was always open to scientists who wanted to contribute.

20/05/08 NESTA Innovation Edge Conference
CaSE's membership officer, David Hawksett, participated in NESTA's Innovation Edge conference.

16/05/08 New Fellows of the Royal Society
CaSE congratulates the new Fellows of the Royal Society. However, we are concerned about the lack of diversity within the new group of Fellows. Yesterday, CaSE launched its report on Delivering Diversity: Making Science & Engineering Accessible to All, which recommended that the science and engineering community needed to improve its diversity at the highest levels. Nick Dusic, CaSE's Director, said "The Royal Society has sent the wrong message about the excellence of women in science. The Royal Society estimates that the percentage of women in senior science positions is 9%. However, only 4.5% of the Fellows elected this year are women. The Royal Society needs to play a leadership role and take the radical steps necessary to ensure that the Fellowship becomes a beacon of the diversity of excellence in science."

15/05/08 Delivering Diversity: Making Science and Engineering Accessible to All
CaSE today launched its latest policy report Delivering Diversity: Making Science and Engineering Accessible to All. The report out a series of recommendations to help eliminate the under-representation of certain groups, namely disabled people, people from certain ethnic minority groups or from socially-disadvantaged backgrounds, and women. CaSE called upon the Government to take more radical steps to improve the diversity of the science and engineering workforce. CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, said: “The science and engineering community prides itself on being a meritocracy yet has swathes of society under-represented at its highest levels. Success may depend on merit but it is limited for many by practical barriers and bias.”
read the press release
read the policy report

14/05/08 CaSE met with Claire Curtis-Thomas, MP.

13/05/08 Children, Schools and Families Committee Report on Testing and Assessment
CaSE was pleased to see that the Children, Schools and Families Committee had listened to the concerns of the community in writing its latest report on Testing and Assessment. The committee reported that the relentless testing of children in the core subjects of english, mathematics and science, not only caused undue stress to children but led to a reduction of teaching of non-core subjects. Even within the core subjects, the taught curriculum has been narrowed with much "teaching to test" inhibiting creative teaching and learning. CaSE's evidence on the problems that result from differing difficulty among A level subjects had also been noted.
read CaSE's response
read the report

12/05 /08 CaSE met with EADS Astrium.

08/05/08 Nobel Prizes
CaSE Director, Nick Dusic, discussed the crisis under which Save British Science was founded and the challenges that CaSE now targets in an article in today's Times Higher Education. The article featured many UK Nobel prize-winners some of whom are on CaSE's Advisory Council and considers what facilitates this level of excellence.
read the article

30/04/08 Science Budget Allocations
CaSE supports many of the findings of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee report on Science Budget Allocations. Commenting, CaSE's Director, Nick Dusic, said, "The Government needs to respect the Haldane Principle and stop interfering with how Research Councils allocate their funding. The Science Budget Allocations targeted funding at various government priorities leaving most Research Councils unable to maintain their investment in fundamental research. The STFC was the hardest hit by this and the Government must now find a solution to the funding crisis in physics and astronomy before the UK’s loses its scientific standing in these areas."
read the press release

29/04/08 Science Funding
CaSE welcomed John Denham's speech today on Science Funding. Commenting, CaSE's Director Nick Dusic, said "It was good to hear the Secretary of State supporting the Haldane Principle and fundamental science. However, the last Science Budget Allocations did not reflect today's good words. The Government had too much influence over how Research Councils allocated their funding and there was too much emphasis on economic impact. It is critical that DIUS produces a clear science policy strategy that sets out how it will support the UK's scientific and engineering community."

28/04/08 Crucible 2008
CaSE enjoyed the opportunity to meet early career researchers. After attending the NESTA Crucible reception for 2008, Hilary Leevers commented that it was great to see how enthused these up and coming researchers were to broaden the range of their collaborations. She was also pleased that they were keen to understand and influence science policy as well as to engage with the media.

23/04/08 Implementation of the REF
CaSE welcomes the Government's acknowledgement that the Research Excellence Framework proposals need more work and the provision of an extra year to develop them. CaSE voiced serious concerns about the use of bibliometric indicators and it is critical that over the next year a workable and appropriate system is developed with genuine input from the science and engineering community. Nick Dusic, Director of CaSE added: "The revised proposals for science and engineering subjects must include greater flexibility including provision for meaningful peer review. As the REF will have a significant impact on the practice of science and engineering in the UK, it is critical that the Government and HEFCE get this right."
Read the Response

17/04/08 Nick Dusic met with specialists in the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee and the director of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

14/04/08 Women in Science
The Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) Committee of the European Parliament voted to adopt a new report on the under-representation of women in science. The report made many recommendations including improving stereotypes, supporting the scientific careers of women, improving transparency of recruitment procedures and the inclusion of at least 40% women (and 40% men) on evaluation and selection committees. Hilary Leevers commented "We welcome all measures to improve the representation of women in science. Despite much effort, progress has been slow and it is time to make sure that real change is occurring. We are looking forward to launching our own report on under-represented groups in science and engineering soon, entitled Delivering Diversity, which we hope will precipitate effective action in this area."

14/04/08 CaSE met with Oxford Instruments.

09/04/08 CaSE met with EADS Astrium.

08/04/08 CaSE met with Syngenta.

02/04/08 Biology Policy
Nick Dusic gave a presentation about CaSE to the Institute of Biology's Science Policy Board.

01/04/08 Engineering Seminar
Nick Dusic, Director of CaSE, participated in the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee seminar on engineering hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering. CaSE earlier provided written evidence to this inquiry and was pleased to further support the Committee's work.