£300 for an A-level in physics
Sixth-formers would be offered £300 to choose science A-levels under radical proposals to reverse a decline in the subjects.
An industry think-tank has called for students to be offered the financial incentive to take courses such as maths and physics.
It also said scientific A-levels should garner extra university entrance points to make them more attractive than subjects seen as soft options, such as media studies.
In its report published yesterday, the Council for Industry and Higher Education described the danger to UK industry of a continuing decline in the sciences at school level.
It said the number of A-level pupils studying so-called Stem subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) had slumped 7.5 per cent between 2001 and 2005. And A-level maths saw a 15 per cent decline over the same period.
Under the proposals, payment would be conditional on an exam grade of C or better in maths, biology, chemistry, physics, design and technology, and computer science.
Council chief executive Richard Brown said: "We wanted to give pupils some additional incentive when they are wavering at 16 or 17.
"In 2005, 176,000 people started Stem A-level courses. If they were all paid £300, that would be £53million, not a vast amount when you consider the billions spent on the education budget."
