Analysis of the national curriculum
Science Curriculum
The first point of note is that the Science part of the National Curriculum changed fairly recently (September 2006). This analysis concentrates on the latest version.
Teaching of origins
What does the Science Curriculum have to say about 'origins' teaching? A quick search of the word 'origin' produces two hits, the same statement expressed as part of both Double and Single Science at key stage 4. Here is the relevant part of the text:
The Earth and beyond
4. Pupils should be taught:
The solar system and the wider universe
a. the relative positions and sizes of planets, stars and other bodies in the universe for example, comets, meteors, galaxies, black holes
b. that gravity acts as a force throughout the universe
c. how stars evolve over a long timescale
d. about some ideas used to explain the origin and evolution of the universe
e. about the search for evidence of life elsewhere in the universe.
The only 'origins' teaching in the National Curriculum is that for the origin of the universe. So what about the origin of life?
There is a mention of "life's start" in the Curriculum. It's in the section titled: "Learning across the National Curriculum", which deals with subjects outside of science but which might be influenced by scientific learning. Quote from this section:
The examples below indicate specific ways in which the teaching of science can contribute to learning across the curriculum.
Promoting pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through science.
For example, science provides opportunities to promote:
* spiritual development, through pupils sensing the natural, material, physical world they live in, reflecting on their part in it, and exploring questions such as when does life start and where does life come from?
In other words, the only mention of "life's start" - i.e. the origin of life - in the whole of the Science Curriculm in a section called 'spiritual development'.
The origin of life is not a part of the Science Curriculum.
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(Mirrored from Science Just Science with permission)
