The Telegraph reports today that proposed new science A-levels are being "dumbed down" to such an extent that some courses will demand no prior knowledge of the subject:

Draft syllabuses for chemistry and biology published by one exam board state that the first part of the qualification, the AS-level, can be tackled without the candidate having studied the subject before.

The changes, part of a general redesign of A-levels to reduce the number of external examinations per subject from six to four, have been condemned by science teachers...

Draft syllabuses for chemistry and biology published by one exam board state that the first part of the qualification, the AS-level, can be tackled without the candidate having studied the subject before.

The changes, part of a general redesign of A-levels to reduce the number of external examinations per subject from six to four, have been condemned by science teachers.

David Perks, a science teacher for 20 years and head of physics at Graveney School, Tooting, south London, said that the redesign was further evidence of the "dumbing down" of science to create "critically aware" consumers, rather than future scientists.

"The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is looking for ways to make science more 'relevant' because it is told that kids are not interested and they find knowledge too hard. So, steadily but surely, science teaching is becoming about current controversies - covering science at the level of media analysis. So, for instance, there is hardly any maths in physics. You are being asked to teach about forces by applying it to car safety."

In my day you had to be very good at maths even to think about doing physics A-level. But then we weren't "kids". Never trust anyone who talks about "kids" in an educational context.

Edexcel, which has published outlines of its syllabuses, says that they are a "seamless progression" from the new science GCSE and provide "inspirational, real-life" context. The other big exam board, AQA, has yet to publish its syllabus, though schools will have to teach it from next year.

There will come a time when even this "issues-led science" is seen as too difficult, and a new, less taxing A-level will be introduced: Issues Studies, or Issues-ology. The exam will test feelings rather than knowledge, because "kids find knowledge too hard." The "kids" will be encouraged to communicate their feelings about issues, in particular whether they have issues around issues. So as not to stifle their creativity or put them under too much stress, a variety of communication methods may be used, for example speech, text messaging and rap.

Changes to A-level sciences will concern university tutors who fear that they could erode vital subject knowledge. Richard Sykes, the rector of Imperial College London, has already criticised the new GCSE, saying that it will disadvantage state school pupils because their private school counterparts are studying traditional single-subject sciences.

Socialist politicians want this of course. They don't want the plebs getting above themselves and outperforming their own offspring, who are safely enrolled in private schools.

On a more encouraging note, Ancient History forges ahead with 1,224 votes. Nearly a year still to go. If you're a British citizen or resident who cares about the dumbing down of our country, click here to sign.