Is SEC Level Physics an adequate preparation for studies at Advanced Level?

Abstract

The change from Physics intended for a small group of high achievers to Physics for all brought about a change in syllabus content. The Physics syllabus at Secondary School level is seen to have a dual role: to introduce students to Physics as a preparation for life and to prepare students who wish to continue studying Physics at higher levels. The study reported in this paper attempted to evaluate how far the second aim is reached: it investigated whether in students’ and teachers’ views, the Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) syllabus gave an adequate preparation to students who eventually studied Physics at Advanced level. Seventeen sixth-form teachers were interviews and 411 students filled in questionnaires by means of which they identified content areas and skills that were adequately covered at SEC level and others that were not. Most students felt that preparation in practical work and quantitative aspects of Physics was lacking. They felt best prepared in Mechanics and least prepared in Fields and Nuclear and Particle Physics. Most teachers described the SEC syllabus as superficial and failing to provide the students with the appropriate tools for the deeper Advanced level syllabus.