A HEADTEACHER today claimed science was in crisis after his school's scholarship scheme failed to attract a single student.

And Doctor David Hempsall, of top-performing Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, said the temptation for pupils to take "less demanding" A-level subjects was behind the snub.

The Ogden Trust Sixth Form Scholarship has run at the fee-paying school for the last two years. It allows talented state school students to join QEGS and take science A-levels, by covering tuition fees and other costs.

Dr Hempsall said: "The decline in tough subjects, like science, nationally is a real concern and what we are seeing is pupils instead opting for what they see as less demanding, more straightforward subjects.

"What this island is good at is innovation, and without science and maths this will be eroded. The fact we have had no applications is a consequence of the national downturn. Is it a national crisis? Yes it is."

Although the school has seen the number taking three A-level science subjects fall by 11 per cent since last year, more than 70 per cent of its 160 A-level pupils are studying at least one science subject.

National statistics show that 44,440 students took A-level chemistry in 1991. By 2004 this fell to 37,254, a drop of 16per cent.

Grant Birchby, head of science at St Mary's College, Blackburn, urged students interested in science to persevere.

He said: "The subject is essential for a host of fields ranging from pharmacists to vets."

Burnley College is, however, bucking the national picture.

Although arts and humanities remain the most popular subjects, students applying to do science and maths A-levels are 50per cent higher than last year.