Should it be mandatory to pass the sciences?

Mandatory means everyone must do it, not just those who could do it but choose not to.

What worthwhile science can we teach to those who can't tie their own shoelaces or who cannot speak English?

The point about maths (arithmetic) and English are that they are basic life skills. That is why we start them in reception class. Although we play at science in key stage 2, it isn't taught seriously until secondary school.

What purpose would be served by inflicting science on those who cannot work at the expected standards of key stage 3?

Well for a starters you'd get far less creationists around which is definitely a problem in the USA.

This isn't America. UK state schools aren't allowed to teach creationism.

And they shouldnt be.Perhaps if they weren't allowed in America they'd have less bible believing nutters and Trump might never have got elected.Maybe if there was more of an emphasis on science then the American public might elect someone who actually wanted to do something about Climate Change.Instead of believing its as Trump so eloquently put it " a chinese hoax".

Its one of the biggest issues of our time and not something we can ignore.If for example you get a drought due to climate change then that effects our food because we import a lot of it.If you acidify the oceans then it effects us because phytoplankton in them produce half of all oxygen which we need to breathe.People seem to think that we can just do anything we like because We're humans.Not so.Life is interconnected and what effects other species effects us too.In short there are a lot of issues that it's essential to understand and science helps with that.Its certainly more useful than teaching people R.E.

? Science *is* a core compulsory subject in the national curriculum.

Its one of the biggest issues of our time and not something we can ignore.If for example you get a drought due to climate change.......

Due to climate change? You sure bout dat?

Matthew 24:7,8

7............and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

See you are living proof that yes science should be mandatory to pass.Maybe try reading more than just the one book yeah?

See you are living proof that yes science should be mandatory to pass.Maybe try reading more than just the one book yeah?

Why would I want to read about all men's opinions and theories of life from a million books? When I can read from one book and learn the truth of life and everything from He who created it?

I'd rather ask the Captain on the bridge with the binoculars what time we'll be arriving, than the scientists shoveling coal below.

Scientists don't shovel the coal - they are the stokers. Scientists engineered the ship you and your captain are on. And I bet your captain has read more than one book - including a few on navigation...

What do you think? A basic knowledge of science is considered to be vital for our everyday lives. Currently, the two subjects in which a pass is compulsory are English language and mathematics, which is fair and understandable, since we don't really want people to be innumerate and illiterate. However, wouldn't you say that knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics at a GCSE standard are just as important?

EDIT: I mean passes in biology, chemistry and physics!

I don't have a Science GCSE and it hasn't done me any harm. I have a degree from a good university and i'm working in Finance earning a very good salary.

Would much rather see schools focusing on Politics and basic Economics/personal finance.

Isn't that an exception to the rule? Wouldn't a good university normally at least want a pass in a science GCSE?

Why would they want that for a History degree?

What do you think? A basic knowledge of science is considered to be vital for our everyday lives. Currently, the two subjects in which a pass is compulsory are English language and mathematics, which is fair and understandable, since we don't really want people to be innumerate and illiterate. However, wouldn't you say that knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics at a GCSE standard are just as important?

EDIT: I mean passes in biology, chemistry and physics!

No! Some people's lives will become a lot harder! GCSE science is too difficult for some people who are otherwise qualified to do a lot of non-scientific based jobs (E.g. Business, culinary jobs). I also hated science laboratories in my last three years and I had to stay as far away from the chemicals as I could. Almost all of the experiments throughout secondary school involved irritant chemicals, which give me anxiety. Unlike in primary school, where science experiments didn't involve any irritant chemicals etc and were more relevant to daily life. I had to rely on other students performing the experiment to pass the internal assessment, as I couldn't have physically taken part in the experiment myself. Some people (Who aren't very good at science) may learn science better through food tech, geography or ICT. You don't need to pass GCSE science to trust scientists, you can learn that logic in other subjects.