Scottish Secondary Science Pupils Receive 25% Less: According to new research conducted by a number of professional bodies, school pupils in Scotland are being under-served in terms of the availability of science equipment compared to English pupils, and receive less than three quarters of the funding of those studying in England.

Scottish Secondary Science Pupils Receive 25% Less Than English Counterparts, According to Education Market Research

The research, which covered teachers in 85 schools (39 primary, 46 secondary) and was conducted by the Learned Societies’ Group (LSG), found that Scottish schools receive around 25% less science funding than those south of the border. Indeed, the study found that only an average of £7.33 was spent on each secondary school pupil in Scotland, compared to a figure of £10 in England.

In terms of detailed findings, the report contained a range of concerns from both primary and secondary school teachers, including:

Primary Schools

•    Almost three fifths (58%) say they do not have enough equipment
•    Two fifths (44%) were dissatisfied with funding for practical science work
•    Half (52%) were not satisfied with access to training on equipment and consumables to help them deliver science lessons
•    More than two fifths (45%) reported having no access to safety equipment or a resources area which was appropriate to science teaching
•    Almost all primary teachers (98%) said that they draw on additional funding for practical activities – parental funding is the most common source of money to fund extra-curricular projects

Secondary Schools

•     A similar proportion (57%) as primary schools said they do not have enough equipment
•    Four fifths (82%) admitted a lack of confidence in having sufficient resources for practical work in the next two years
•    Again, almost all secondary teachers (98%) drew on additional resources for practical work – although teachers themselves were the most common contributors

Following the survey, the LSG has called on the Scottish government to prioritise STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teaching across both primary and secondary schools – although given budget pressures on local councils (who set school budgets) and the Scottish Government as a whole, it is difficult at this stage to see where additional funding might come from.