BES Facebook pageEducation Policy
The BES is committed to ensuring that ecological science and skills associated with its study are appropriately represented through the education systems within the UK. We aim to cover all aspects of education from primary school science to post graduate study.
The BES most often responds to education policy consultation opportunities in collaboration with other Learned Societies, the Society of Biology and SCORE. We strongly feel that working togther we can extend our influence.
This section of our website is intended to act as reference point for any BES member involved in education and includes reports, reviews and consultations that might be of relevance.
News:
Consultations, submissions and reports
NEW
December 2011: The Department for Education publishes the expert panel report on the national curriculum review. The report recommends that the implementation be delayed for a further 12 months and among other significant recommendations has included high level requirements for delivery of sustainability. This is cited as being a consistent feature of other high performing countries.
A summary of the key features of the report as they relate ot the work of the BES is here Report Findings.pdf
Previous responses and reports
The BES as a member organisation of the Society of Biology contributed to a joint response to the Higher education white paper consultation. Further details. The BES highlighted the additional costs related to practical science and fieldwork within bioscience courses and the need to ensure that critical and strategically important skills are not put at risk.
September 2011: The Science and Technology committee publishes its report on practical experiments in science and science field trips. The report highlights the need for continuing professional development, high quality facilities and appropriate technical support.
June 2011: BIS pubishes the higher education white paper, Students at the heart of the system.
June 2011: The BES is invited to sit on the Department for Education subject advisory group undertaking the review of the national curriculum. The education officer is working with the group to consider the biology content for the science curriculum. An open consultation is expected in early 2012.
11th May: The BES contributed to a SCORE response on the Science end technology committee inquiry on practical work and fieldwrok in science education. An additional response was also submited as part of the ASE outdoor science working group
8th April 2011: The Science and Technology committee has launched an inquiry into practical experiments and fieldwork in science and geograpghy education, the consequences of any decline in provision for careers and progression to higher education. The BES will be submitting a response and welcomes comments and evidence from our members. Please forward any comments and evidence to the Education Officer before 1st May 2011.
February 2011: The Royal Society publishes its report on the UK science and maths workforce
January 2011: the Public Accounts Committee publish a report "Educating the Next Generation of Scientists"
January 2011: the Department for Education annouce a review of the national curriculum, the BES will be submitting a response to the call for evidence and members are invited to send any comments or contributions to the education officer
19th January 2011: the Association for Science Education Outdoor Science working group of which the BES is a member launched the report "Outdoor Science, a coordinated approach to high quality teaching and learning in fieldwork for science education" at a parliamentary reception hosted by Julian Huppert MP
December 2010: the House of Commons votes to increase the fees charged by HEI's.
December 2010: ahead of the House of Commons vote on Tuition fees, the IFS has produced briefing notes.
December 2010: the OECD has published the the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) 2009 report. National reports for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all available through NFER. The statement from the Department for Education summarises how England is placed in the international rankings.
December 2010: HEFCE has launched a consultation on "public Information about higher education". The BES will be developing a response to this consultation shortly and comments from BES members are sought. This consultation reflects some of the recommendations proposed in the Browne Review. Please direct any comments relating to the consultation to the Education Officer.
November 2010: The Department for Education published the schools white paper The Importance of Teaching, along with additional supporting evidence in the document The Case for Change. The BES has contributed to a response being put together by the Society of Biology.
