Note
Since the first draft of this paper was produced, the new coalition government
in the UK has produced a new set of standards for teachers, to be applied
from September 2012, and instigated a review of the National Curriculum, with
outcomes to be implemented in September 2013. It remains to be seen as to
how far this will impact on expectations regarding the teaching of NOS. However,
a continued concern for developing scientific literacy and the public
understanding of science, as well as producing good scientists for the future,
would suggest that work on developing understandings of NOS should remain
a priority.