Its report Successful Science found that in 2010 around 12,000 more students than the previous year were awarded the top grades of A* and A in science GCSEs. This is an increase of 24 per cent.
Factors include the introduction of separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics in 2006, which has given pupils a greater choice of subjects to fit their individual interests.
However, in primary schools Ofsted found that there was a lack of specialist science expertise among teaching staff to sufficiently challenge more able students.
A statement from Ofsted found the situation in primary schools "reflects less effective professional development in primary science, which means some teachers do not have the necessary understanding of scientific enquiry skills and physical sciences".
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