Series CNU/BOL - NUFFIELD FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEACHING PROJECT: Biology O-level

The proposals of a biology panel of 1961 (made up of members of both the Science Masters Association and the Association of Women Science Teachers, later the Association for Science Education) to discuss teaching methods for Biology O-level (BOL) formed the starting point for deliberations of the Biology Section of the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project. As a first step in 1962 a group of teachers was appointed to draft a complete O-level course in biology. The third year was tried out in schools during 1963-1964. During the following year, all five years were tried out. The draft publications were then revised on the basis of teachers' and pupils' criticism. The course organiser was Mr W H Dowdeswell, and the consultative committee consisted of Professor M M Swann, Mr D P Bennett, Mr C D Bingham, Dr J K Brierley, Professor J H Burnett, Professor G E Fogg, Miss M Going, Mr E J Machin, Mr S T S Skillin, and Dr N Tinbergen. Others involved in the compilation and testing of material and writing of books made up the Team Leaders and Area Leaders. The Nuffield Foundation Biology Project was envisaged as a five-year course for pupils between the ages of 11 and 16. The first two years, covering the ages 11 to 13, represented the introductory phase in which the groundwork was laid. The final three years represented the O-level examination. Schools were encouraged to start pupils at Year I or Year III. A Text and Teachers' Guide was produced for each of the five years of the course. Examinations in the Biology O-level were first set in summer 1965 for pupils from trial schools only. Similar examinations were held in 1966 and 1967. For the years following the GCE Examining Boards agreed that a Nuffield O-level paper would be set for all candidates wishing to enter. The Nuffield O-level Biology Continuation related to evaluation of BOL materials, and concentrated on four areas: content analysis; teacher opinion; implementation in schools; and examinations. The analysis included a questionnaire and was carried out in 1970.