How did the students’ attitudes towards maths, science and English differ?
It was clear from the interviews that the students had a more positive outlook about science and maths than English. The teachers found that the students liked science because they enjoyed the practical and physical side of the subject. They also valued the subjects because they saw them as relevant to the world around them. Several of them viewed their studies in terms of how relevant they would be to their careers. One expressed the view that physics would be far more relevant to his future career because he wanted to be a chemical engineer; another student questioned the worth of English as a career option. When asked about their feelings towards English, and writing in particular, some of the students expressed a problem with using their feelings within their work. They preferred the objective, detached side of science – being able to look at the surrounding world, rather than the personal, intimate side of English, which focuses on the individual. All the students showed a dislike
