Annette Smith, chief executive of the Association of Science Education, described the biology, chemistry and physics curricula as a "dull list of topics".

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The University of Leeds said Mr Connell was a former student who completed a physics programme in 2004, graduating with a diploma in higher education.

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"This is likely to have a hugely detrimental impact on children's education with teachers in key subjects such as maths, physics and IT who have highly marketable skills leaving teaching and graduates with these skills, and other sought-after skills, not going into teaching, " she said.

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