Seventy years after CP Snow's seminal warning about the estrangement between the sciences and the arts, the divide remains as pronounced as ever. The Guardian's editorial argues that the solution lies in reforming A-levels to encourage a broader education, allowing students to keep their options open for longer.
The Persistent Divide Between Sciences and Humanities
In 1959, CP Snow famously criticized the incuriosity of 'literary intellectuals' about technology in his essay 'The Two Cultures.' While many literary figures, from Tom Stoppard to Richard Holmes, have since embraced scientific ideas, the institutional split between the humanities and sciences is still evident. This is particularly clear in the UK's education system, where students are forced to choose between the two at age 16.
A poignant example of the value of bridging this gap comes from clinical scientist Michael Baum. In the British Medical Journal, he described how a 1993 performance of Tom Stoppard's play 'Arcadia' led to a scientific epiphany. The character Thomasina Coverly's attempt to plot an equation for a rose prompted Baum to realize that chaos theory could explain the recurrence patterns of breast cancer. He called it 'the bond that links the arts and the sciences as one enterprise rather than the contents of two silos.'
The Problem of Early Specialization
The UK's early specialization is highly unusual internationally. In France, Germany, the US, and Scotland, pupils typically study a broader curriculum until they leave school. While English and Welsh teenagers theoretically have a wide choice of subjects, timetables and the competitive nature of university admissions discourage them from mixing disciplines.
This tendency has intensified in recent years. Under New Labour, pupils were encouraged to take four subjects in year 12 before choosing three A-levels. However, following Michael Gove's decision to scrap AS assessments, the options narrowed both in terms of the number of subjects and the range. Between 2003 and 2021, the proportion of students taking A-levels from a single subject-group rose from 18% to 35%. Only 5% of the latter cohort studied a combination of Stem, social science, and humanities subjects.
Funding Cuts and the International Baccalaureate
Last year, the government cut funding for state schools teaching the wide-ranging international baccalaureate, further limiting options for students seeking a more holistic education. This move has been criticized by educators who argue that the IB's breadth better prepares students for the complexities of the modern world.
Challenges Facing the New Education Secretary
The new education secretary, Lucy Powell, faces no shortage of challenges. These include the repeatedly botched reform of vocational alternatives and the rise in pupils with special educational needs. Perhaps that's why A-levels barely featured in the recent curriculum review. But the 70th anniversary of Snow's 'two cultures' thesis is a good time to reflect on whether a rethink of 16-to-18 education is due.
The Case for Broader Education
Young people should be enabled to keep more options open for longer. More people straddling the science and humanities disciplines would be a good thing, as it fosters creativity, critical thinking, and innovation. The editorial concludes that bridging the divide between the two cultures should start with A-level reform, encouraging students to study a mix of subjects rather than being forced into one silo.
