Science qualification call for new primary teachers

Research has suggested primary school teachers lack confidence teaching science and maths

Scottish primary school teachers should have the equivalent of a science Higher before they enter the profession, according to a group of experts.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh said under new plans, entrants would need qualifications in English, maths and a language, but not science.

Last year a government-commissioned report raised concern over primary pupils' performance in the subject.

Teacher union EIS warned over making entry requirements too prescriptive.

Currently, prospective candidates should have an SCQF 6 in English (equivalent to a Higher) and an SCQF 5 in Maths (Standard Grade equivalent).

The General Teaching Council Scotland is consulting on revised qualifications for access to teacher training from August 2014.

Proposals include a requirement for new entrants to also have an SCQF 6 in a modern language.

'Alarming signal'

The RSE and the Learned Societies' Group on Scottish Science Education (LSGSSE) - which was set up last year to bring together science bodies to look at school education - expressed disappointment in the draft guidelines.

Referring to the modern language proposals, the group said: "It is notable and equally disappointing that there is no corresponding requirement for applicants entering Primary ITE [Initial Teacher Education] programmes to have studied science or technology subjects beyond that covered in the broad general phase of secondary education."

It added: "Without a similar requirement for a science qualification, this would appear to send an alarming signal about the relative importance of science subjects in comparison with languages."

The group sited the independent 2012 SEEAG (Science and Engineering Education Advisory Group) report, which raised "major concern" over research which suggested a lack of confidence among primary teachers in teaching science.

It also referred to Minister for Learning and Science Alasdair Allan's response to the report, calling for a teacher workforce which was skilled and confident in delivering stimulating science learning.

However, EIS President Susan Quinn said it was important not to make the entry system too rigid.

"We want our teachers to be as well qualified as possible," she said.

"But there is an argument that if you start looking and being prescriptive about particular subjects at Higher, other than English, then you close down looking at potentially good teachers - who are say good on expressive arts or music."