Series CNU/ALPS - NUFFIELD FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEACHING PROJECT: A-level in Physical Sciences

Key Information

Reference code

CNU/ALPS

Title

NUFFIELD FOUNDATION SCIENCE TEACHING PROJECT: A-level in Physical Sciences

Date(s)

  • 1955-1974 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent

45 boxes, 1 file

Scope and content

Records, 1955-1974, of the Nuffield Foundation A-level Physical Science (ALPS) course, comprising draft proposals for the A-level in Physical Sciences and contents of the course, 1966-1971, including report on general entry requirements to universities, 1967, progress report, 1968, information for pupils, 1968, and papers relating to course content, 1969-1971; Nuffield Foundation administrative papers relating to the A-level in Physical Sciences, 1964-1973, mostly correspondence; working party papers, 1965-1968, relating to structure of the course; papers relating to meetings and conferences, 1964-1970, including meetings of the Joint Committee on Physical Sciences and the Physical Sciences consultative committee and correspondence with the GCE (General Certificate of Education) Liaison Committee and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate; papers relating to trial schools, 1966-1968, including question papers, correspondence concerning admission to universities, and summary of comments received; correspondence with schools, Local Education Authorities and colleges of further education, 1965-1974, the subjects including different kinds of schools, feedback, and teaching materials; newsletters, 1967-1971, including information on the teacher's guide and student's workbook; schools questionnaire, 1971; papers relating to examinations, 1966-1971, including details of candidates, sample papers, result sheets and requirements for university entrance; papers on projects submitted by candidates, 1967-1971; papers relating to apparatus and scientific developments for the A-level in Physical Sciences, 1966-1971; correspondence with universities, polytechnics, and UCCA (later the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), 1965-1972, including acceptance of ALPS for entry; introductory teachers' guides and course contents, 1967-1970; publications and articles, 1965-1971, including correspondence with publishers of textbooks and other materials; miscellaneous papers, 1955-1968, including correspondence with the Civil Service Commission and the armed forces concerning acceptance of ALPS candidates for entry; papers written by members of the Physical Sciences Group, 1965-1968 and undated, on various scientific topics, including preparatory material on their drafting; teachers' guides and papers prepared by teachers in trials schools, 1966-1967 and undated, on various scientific topics, with introductory sections and questions and answers.

System of arrangement

Arranged in series as outlined above.

General Information

Name of creator

Biographical history

The Nuffield Foundation A-level Physical Science course was planned as an alternative to sixth-form physics and chemistry. The exercise was initiated in 1965 under the control of the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project and was organised by Dr John E Spice, Senior Chemistry Master at Winchester College. The first meeting of the Physical Sciences Group with physicists and chemists from the trials schools to discuss the content of the course and form of examination was held in March 1966. Members of the Group, who worked part-time, were responsible for planning and writing the course. The course began in sixteen 'trials schools' (Atlantic College; Bletchley Grammar School; Brighton, Hove and Sussex Grammar School; Cardinal Hinsley Grammar School in Bradford; Christ's Hospital; City of London Girls' School; Cleveland Grammar School in Redcar; Dauntsey's School; Dudley High School; Eastbourne Grammer School; Elizabeth College in Guernsey; Gordonstoun School; Marlborough College; Seaford College in Petworth; Watford Grammar School; and Winchester College) in September 1966 and the first candidates were examined in June 1968.

Custodial history

The records were transferred to King's College London Archives from the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project at Chelsea College.

Conditions governing access

Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.

Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archives.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Finding aids

List available in reading room at King's College London Archives.

Existence and location of originals

Off-campus collection

Please note: We require 7 days notice to retrieve this collection as part, or all of it, is held off-campus. Read more ›

Related materials

King's College London Archives holds the records of the Nuffield Foundation Science Teaching Project (NFSTP), 1949-1993 (Ref: CNU), the other sub-fonds comprising general papers, 1961-1974 (Ref: CNU/STP); the Secondary Science Education Programme, 1965-1974 (Ref: CNU/SS); the Junior Science Project, 1960-1974 (Ref: CNU/JSP); the Combined Science Project, 1964-1970 (Ref: CNU/CSP); Physics A-and O-level, 1963-1972 (Ref: CNU/PAL, CNU/POL); Chemistry O-level, 1962-1974 (Ref: CNU/COL); Chemistry A-level, 1962-1974 (Ref: CNU/CAL); Biology O-level, 1962-c1973 (Ref: CNU/BOL); Biology A-level, 1963-1972 (Ref: CNU/BAL); records relating to publications, also including material on NFSTP administration, 1949-1992 (Ref: CNU/PBN); published texts, 1960-1993 (Ref: CNU/TEXT); film loops and accompanying teaching notes, 1966-1978 (Ref: CNU/BOL/FL, CNU/COL/FL, CNU/BAL/FL, CNU/CAL/FL, CNU/PAL/FL, CNU/SS/FL, CNU/CSP/FL). It also holds records of the Schools Council Integrated Science Project (based, like the NFSTP, at Chelsea College and inspired by the Nuffield Combined Science Scheme), 1968-1984 (Ref: C/SCISP, C/SC, C/SCPT, C/SCI5-13).

Related descriptions

Alternative identifier(s)

Place access points

Genre access points

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.

Script(s)

Archivist's note

Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Source: list at King's College London Archives.

Accession area