About SCORE

Background of SCORE

Key players in the science community have become increasingly concerned about a number of long-term trends within science education, in particular the decline in numbers of young people taking A-level physics and chemistry and the unacceptable shortages of specialist teachers in these subjects.

SCORE was established in 2006 to bring organisations together to tackle these long term issues. These organisations believe that the key to maximising the impact of their efforts, especially their influence on Government, lies in a greater degree of collaboration. The founding partners of SCORE were the Association for Science Education, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Science Council and the Society of Biology.

SCORE member organisations are the Association for Science Education, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Biology.

SCORE priorities

SCORE works together in three strategic areas of 5-19 science education: curriculum; qualifications and assessment; and the school and college workforce.

SCORE want all young people to experience a modern, relevant and engaging curriculum with an appropriate assessment framework. A good supply of skilled teachers is necessary to deliver this vision, and they must be supported in this, not hindered, by the education system.

How SCORE works

The SCORE committee meets eight times a year to discuss key issues on science education and identify common policy areas to work together on. SCORE provides advice to Government, its agencies and other organisations on the issues outlined above.

The member organisations undertake collaborative projects to inform their policy advice, conduct joint studies, develop common evaluation procedures and share best practice. SCORE also seeks to engage the wider science community in the issues in science education, through conferences, calls for evidence, task and finish groups, workshops and regular news bulletins.