AQA GCSE Science Survey

New GCSE Science specifications will be developed next year for first teaching in September 2011. AQA would like to get an early idea of what features Science teachers like and dislike, so, no matter what board you currently teach, please help us by taking a few minutes to complete this survey.

1.	With which board did your current science department make GCSE entries in 2008?
	AQA
	CCEA
	Edexcel
	OCR
	WJEC
	More than one board
	An alternative to GCSE

2.	Please tick the board combination your science department made GCSE entries with in 2008.
	AQA and Edexcel
	AQA and OCR
	AQA and either CCEA or WJEC
	Edexcel and OCR
	AQA and a GCSE alternative
	Another combination

3.	With which board did your current science department make GCSE entries in 2009?
	AQA
	CCEA
	Edexcel
	OCR
	WJEC
	More than one board
	An alternative to GCSE

4.	Please tick the board combination your science department made GCSE entries with in 2009.
	AQA and Edexcel
	AQA and OCR
	AQA and either CCEA or WJEC
	Edexcel and OCR
	AQA and a GCSE alternative
	Another combination

5.	Which exam board does your science department teach for GCSE as of September 2009?
	AQA
	CCEA
	Edexcel
	OCR
	WJEC
	More than one board
	An alternative to GCSE

6.	Please tick the board combination your science department teaches for GCSE as of September 2009.
	AQA and Edexcel
	AQA and OCR
	AQA and either CCEA or WJEC
	Edexcel and OCR
	AQA and a GCSE alternative
	Another combination

7.	You made entries with AQA in 2009 but not 2008. What were the main reasons your centre recently changed to AQA?
	To find a more interesting specification
	To find a specification containing more science
	To find a specification containing less science
	Other boards publish higher pass rates
	I could get better results teaching different material
	To find a more accessible exam format
	To find  a specification with smaller assessment units
	To find a specification with larger assessment units
	To find shorter tests
	To find longer tests
	To find clearer questions
	To get better customer service
	To get better quality training (INSET/CPD)
	To get more interesting training (INSET/CPD)
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

8.	What specific features attracted you to the AQA specification?

9.	You made entries with AQA in 2008 and/or 2009, but are no longer teaching AQA. What were the main reasons your centre recently left AQA?
	To find a more interesting specification
	To find a specification containing more science
	To find a specification containing less science
	Other boards publish higher pass rates
	I could get better results teaching different material
	To find a more accessible exam format
	To find  a specification with smaller assessment units
	To find a specification with larger assessment units
	To find shorter tests
	To find longer tests
	To find clearer questions
	To get better customer service
	To get better quality training (INSET/CPD)
	To get more interesting training (INSET/CPD)
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

10.	What specific features put you off the AQA specification?

11.	You mentioned teaching or having made entries with a GCSE alternative in science recently. Please name the GCSE alternative, specifying which board if appropriate.

12.	Please tick all the science GCSE specifications that your science department currently teaches.
	Core Science
	Additional Science
	Additional Applied Science
	One or more separate sciences (BCP)
	Applied Science (double award)

13.	What proportion of your cohort is taught separate sciences?
	Up to 25%
	Up to 50%
	Up to 75%
	Up to 100%

14.	What proportion of your cohort is taught an Additional Science specification?
	Up to 25%
	Up to 50%
	Up to 75%
	Up to 100%

15.	What proportion of your cohort is taught an Additional Applied specification?
	Up to 25%
	Up to 50%
	Up to 75%
	Up to 100%

16.	How important are the following factors for you when choosing sciences GCSE specifications?
		Not at all important		Not very important		Neither important nor unimportant		Quite important		Very important		Don't know
	Whether the board offers a choice of specifications
	Whether your students will find the course accessible
	Whether you are confident to teach the content
	The size of the assessment units
	The frequency of opportunities for assessment
	Whether there is an on-screen testing option
	The language used in the specification
	The language used in the specimen papers
	The amount of multiple choice in the papers
	Whether you can re-use your current teaching resources
	Whether the specification offers a suitable pathway to A level

17.	You said it was important that students found the course accessible. What do you primarily mean by accessible?
	Interesting content
	Less content
	Relevant context
	Simple language
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

18.	What proportion of your students would you enter for an on-screen option for the examined units of GCSE assessment?
	None
	Up to 25%
	Up to 50%
	Up to 75%
	Up to 100%
	Don't know

19.	What proportion of multiple choice do you prefer for the examined units of GCSE assessment?
	None
	Up to 25%
	Up to 50%
	Up to 75%
	Up to 100%
	Don't know

20.	In your opinion, what should be the maximum length for a sciences GCSE question paper?
	45 minutes
	1 hour
	1 hour 15 minutes
	Indifferent
	Don't know

21.	How many assessment units would you prefer for a sciences GCSE specification?
	One
	Two
	Three
	Four
	More than four
	Indifferent
	Don't know
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

22.	How often would you prefer assessments for a sciences GCSE specification to be available?
	Once a year
	Twice a year
	Three times a year
	Four times a year
	Indifferent
	Don't know
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

23.	At present, core GCSE Science specifications usually comprise discrete units of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Would you choose a core GCSE Science specification whose units combined the teaching of these three subjects?
	Yes
	No
	It depends
	Do not teach core Science
	Don't know

24.	Please explain your attitude to the combined teaching of Biology, Chemistry and Physics units.

25.	How would you rate the importance attached to the following elements in the main core GCSE Science specification your department currently teaches?
		Far too little		Somewhat too little		About right		Somewhat too much		Far too much		Don't know
	Practical skills and experiments
	Analysis of data from practicals
	Environmental context of science
	Scientific theory
	Scientific modelling
	Use of formulae and equations
	Use of science in society

26.	How would rate the importance attached to the following elements in the main Additional Science specification your department currently teaches?
		Far too little		Somewhat too little		About right		Somewhat too much		Far too much		Don't know
	Practical skills and experiments
	Analysis of data from practicals
	Environmental context of science
	Scientific theory
	Scientific modelling
	Use of formulae and equations
	Use of science in society

27.	How would you rate the importance attached to the following elements in the main Additional Applied Science specification your department currently teaches?
		Far too little		Somewhat too little		About right		Somewhat too much		Far too much		Don't know
	Practical skills and experiments
	Analysis of data from practicals
	Environmental context of science
	Scientific theory
	Scientific modelling
	Use of formulae and equations
	Use of science in society

28.	How would you rate the importance attached to the following main elements in the Applied Science (double award) specification you teach?
		Far too little		Somewhat too little		About right		Somewhat too much		Far too much		Don't know
	Practical skills and experiments
	Analysis of data from practicals
	Environmental context of science
	Scientific theory
	Scientific modelling
	Use of formulae and equations
	Use of science in society

29.	How would you rate the importance attached to the following elements in the separate science specifications (BCP) your department currently teaches?
		Far too little		Somewhat too little		About right		Somewhat too much		Far too much		Don't know
	Practical skills and experiments
	Analysis of data from practicals
	Environmental context of science
	Scientific theory
	Scientific modelling
	Use of formulae and equations
	Use of science in society

30.	In your present position, do you ever teach a science subject in which you are not a specialist (eg biology if you are a physics teacher)?
	Frequently
	Sometimes
	Rarely
	Never

31.

How confident are you about teaching practicals in a non-subject specialism?

Not at all confident

Not very confident

Neutral

Moderately Confident

Very confident

Don't know

32.	For the new 2011 GCSE specifications, QCDA is stipulating a 25% weighting for the centre-assessed unit. Within this limit, have you any particular preferences for the structure or content of the centre-assessed unit?

33.	If you were presented with the following four options only for the controlled assessment, which one would you choose?
	Internally assessed practicals only
	Non-assessed practicals with linked written element
	Assessment split between practicals and written element
	Written element only
	Cannot choose

34.

How important is it for you to be able to choose between different subject content options to suit your or your students' interests, in the new GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications for first teaching in September 2011?

Not at all important

Not very important

Neutral

Quite important

Very important

Don't know

35.	What areas of science particularly interest you or your students?

36.	How influential a role will the local authority science advisor play in your decision as to which awarding body to choose for the new 2011 specifications?
	No influence
	Little influence
	Some influence
	High influence
	Decisive influence

37.	The new GCSE science specifications will be available in draft form in April 2010, with final accreditation due in August 2010. When do you anticipate choosing your new specification?
	Before September 2010
	September to December 2010
	January to March 2011
	After March 2011
	Don't know

38.	Are you planning on replacing your teaching resources for the new specification from September 2011?
	Yes
	No
	Don't know

39.	Comparing 2010 with 2009, will your science department make proportionately more separate sciences (BCP) entries than core/Additional Science entries?
	Yes, we have switched entirely to separate sciences
	Yes, we have partly switched to separate sciences
	No, we have moved from separate sciences towards core or core and Additional Science
	No, the proportions entered for separate sciences and core/Additional have remained stable
	Don't know

40.	Why have you switched towards teaching the separate sciences?

41.	Are you planning to change exam board in the next two academic years?
	Yes, in time for September 2010
	Yes, in time for September 2011
	Yes, unsure which year
	No
	Don't know

42.	What are the main reasons why you will stay with the same exam board?
	The content of the specification is interesting
	The specification contains the right amount of science
	I am satisfied  with the grades achieved
	The exams are in an accessible format
	I am satisfied with the size of the assessment units
	I am satisfied with the length of the tests
	I am satisfied with the clarity of the questions
	I am satisfied with the customer service
	I am satisfied with the quality of the training
	I am satisfied that the training is interesting
	Other

	Please specify 'other'

43.	Which new board will you be adopting for science GCSEs from September 2011?
	AQA
	CCEA
	Edexcel
	OCR
	WJEC
	More than one board
	An alternative to GCSE
	Don't know

44.	Please tick the board combination your science department teaches for GCSE as of September 2009.
	AQA and Edexcel
	AQA and OCR
	AQA and either CCEA or WJEC
	Edexcel and OCR
	AQA and a GCSE alternative
	Another combination

45.	Which GCSE alternative will you be using?

46.	What are the main reasons why you will change exam board?
	To find a more interesting specification
	To find a specification containing more science
	To find a specification containing less science
	Other boards publish higher pass rates
	I could get better results teaching different material
	To find a more accessible exam format
	To find  a specification with smaller assessment units
	To find a specification with larger assessment units
	To find shorter tests
	To find longer tests
	To find clearer questions
	To get better customer service
	To get better quality training (INSET/CPD)
	To get more interesting training (INSET/CPD)
	Other

	Please specify 'other':

47.	Which of the following best describes your centre type?
	Maintained school to 16
	Maintained school to 18
	Independent to 16
	Independent to 18
	Sixth form  or FE College
	Special Needs
	Other

48.	Please tell us what type of centre you work at.

49.	If funding and Achievement and Attainment (ie League) Table recognition were to be made available, would you consider switching from science GCSE to IGCSE?
	Yes, for all KS4 pupils
	Yes, for some KS4 pupils
	No
	Undecided
	Don't know enough about IGCSE

50.	How many GCSE entries in total did your science department make in 2009? Please count one candidate for core and Additonal science as two entries, or BCP as three entries.
	None
	1-50
	51-100
	101-200
	201-300
	301-400
	More than 400

51.	What is your centre number, or your centre name? (optional)

52.	Which of the following best describes your job role?
	Head of Science
	Head of Science and either Head of Biology, Chemistry or Physics
	Head of Biology, Chemistry or Physics
	Science teacher
	Other

53.	Please tell us your job title.

54.	Are you the main decision-maker as regards specification choice?
	Yes
	No

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please click submit to send us your replies.