Letter: Lack of chemistry between students and science

Sir: Your leading article (20 August) comments that 'science is still the poor relation' when compared to arts, social sciences and technology subjects.

Your reasons concentrate on the poor prospects for earnings and the low priority given to research and development in industry. You add that many students may feel (rightly or wrongly) that 'it is easier to get good grades in arts subjects'. But you omit one key point. The structure of the 'new' GCSE science syllabus is itself partly at fault since it attempts to combine a range of science subjects. With this in mind, many students may reject science at A-level because they feel less equipped to deal with individual science subjects at A-level.

Yours faithfully,

WENDY P. ARTHUR

London, W6

20 August