Call to fine exam boards which break the rules
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Exam boards should face fines if they fail to stick to guidelines on standards, the head of the Royal Society of Chemistry said today.
Awarding bodies are competing in a "race to the bottom" as they battle to make their courses attractive to schools and students, Dr Richard Pike claimed.
He said boards should face penalties in the same way that Forumla 1 drivers are banned if they break the rules, or as those who break competition laws are fined.
Speaking at the opening of a new chemistry block at Millfield School in Somerset today, Dr Pike will say: "Evidence gathered recently by the science community has identified entire science papers with no underlying mathematics, and science questions with no science. This is a blatant breach of expected standards."
He will add: "As examining boards compete to makes their wares more attractive to schools and pupils, it really is 'a race to the bottom', with each one pushing the boundaries set by the regulators and sometimes going right through them.
"Even attempts to make topics more relevant through the How Science Works initiative, as demanded by specifications, have been largely abandoned in some cases, as boards focus on simplicity and multiple choice questions.
"In any other endeavour, this would be unacceptable. Break the rules in Formula 1, and you get banned. Contravene competition law, and you get fined.
"A million pound surcharge would focus the mind of any examining board chief executive and overnight would do more than years of 'discussion between stakeholders'."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments