TEACHERS refused yesterday to endorse a shake-up of science exams, despite being told by colleagues that pupils are being constrained by “Mickey Mouse” practicals.

A motion before the ATL teaching union conference slammed current reforms to A-levels as “poorly planned and rushed.”

But several delegates objected to paragraphs suggesting that ATL “deplores Ofqual’s decision to change the method by which practical work will be assessed in the science subjects.”

The reforms mean that “controlled assessments,” where pupils produce coursework in exam conditions, will be scrapped in favour of a paper exam following several unassessed practical tasks.

“I value practical work … however, I reject the idea that Ofqual’s reform of assessment of practical work is a bad thing,” said Leicester physics teacher Simon Clarkson.

“Currently, a lot of practical work in science at GCSE and particularly at A-level is scientifically rubbish.”

He said that schools were using “Mickey Mouse practicals,” that prepared students poorly for university.

Southend and Thurrock delegate Geoff Pye agreed, saying: “I have this year wasted 12 hours of valuable time getting the pupils to hoop-jump rather than using that time to teach them the advanced skills.”

But Somerset delegate Matt Mugan urged: “If we reject this motion, we’re effectively lying down and saying A-level reform is okay.”

Plans pushed forward by the Con-Dems will see year 12 AS-level exams scrapped and grades become fully dependent on final year 13 exams.

“Students will fail and their lives will be worse for it,” said Mr Mugan.

Conference rejected the dissent and passed the full motion.