A survey carried out for an MSc study by James Mullen, head of St James’ primary in Coatbridge, found “substantial support” for science as a free-standing subject, particularly in upper primary.
Primary heads, advisers and teachers questioned in North and South Lanarkshire backed some role for specialist science teachers.
Despite growing concerns about teachers’ competence in science, only 25 out of 469 in-service hours had been spent on primary science over the past three years, compared with 71 hours on information technology and 35 hours on PE.
