Stem Cells: Donors

(asked on 4th June 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of including information on stem cell donation in the national curriculum.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 12th June 2018

Pupils are taught about stem cells in the new key stage 4 science curriculum, GCSE combined science and GCSE biology. The national curriculum is compulsory in maintained schools and it can be used as a benchmark by academies and free schools. It focuses on the essential knowledge in each subject, which allows teachers to take greater control over the wider curriculum in schools. Science content in the curriculum includes the function of stem cells and the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of stem cells in medicine. Teachers are free to use this as an opportunity to inform pupils about stem cell donation.

The key stage 4 science curriculum and science GCSEs were reformed with input from subject experts and taught from September 2016. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced in April 2018 that the Government will not change the national curriculum or current GCSE content for the rest of this parliament. This decision was taken to promote stability for schools and teachers.

Reticulating Splines