Plan to end coursework in science A-levels described as 'death knell for UK science education' by Physiological Society

The British scientific community has reacted with dismay to the decision to axe practical lab work from science A-levels in England.

Ofqual, the exam regulator in England, announced that it would go ahead with its plans to end assessed coursework counting towards A-levels in biology, physics and chemistry – a move the Physiological Society, representing biologists, described as "the death knell for UK science education".

Instead, lab experiments will count towards a separate qualification – tentatively entitled "practical endorsed certificate for science" – that will be taken alongside science A-levels, consisting of a pass or fail grade assessed by teachers. The new course will be taught from 2015, with the first of the revised exams to be taken in 2017.

Glynnis Stacey, Ofqual's chief regulator, said that to ensure the new certificate was rigorous, examination boards would be required to send staff into schools to provide a "live check" that a list of 12 tests and experiments – such as dissecting plants or animals – were being carried out properly, and to inspect coursework.

Paul Dodd from the OCR exam board said sending monitors into science classes across the country could mean extra costs. But he cautioned that details of the science inspections remained to be finalised, and that the additional costs would depend on the number and length of visits required.

The Association of School and College Leaders said it objected to the plans, and argued that more effort should be put into assessing practical work within exams.

"The job of the awarding bodies is to assess how the student has performed, not to judge teachers or how they are teaching," said Sue Kirkham, ASCL's curriculum and assessment specialist. "We think this is dangerous territory for the awarding bodies to be getting into."

The new certificate will not be included in school league tables, and Ofqual said it was possible for a student to be awarded the highest A* grade in a science exam while still receiving a failing grade in the practical certificate.

"Separating practical work assessment from the grade could de-prioritise it and the awarding organisations and Ofqual will need to closely monitor this," said Jill Stokoe, policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

Dr Sarah Main of the Campaign for Science and Engineering said that Ofqual had persisted with the reform despite objections from across the science community, industry, universities and the government's chief scientific advisor.

"The changes will not help students who we know are inspired and motivated by doing science, not just learning about science. And they will not help universities, colleges and companies who already struggle to recruit people with the practical experience they need," Main said.

Ofqual's earlier research had found that assessments for practical work in science A-levels often showed few differences between pupils. It argued that 15% of marks in the new exam would require pupils to explain practical work they had done.

In other changes, Ofqual announced that A-level English would still have 20% of its marks awarded through assessment, while the computer science grade would also include 20% of assessed coursework.

The Department for Education also released details of revised content for GCSEs in science, history, geography and languages, to be taught in schools from 2016, and revised A-levels in English, sciences, psychology, history, economics, business, computer science, art and design, and sociology, for 2015.

In GCSE history, British history will now take up 40% of the course, compared with the current 25%.

"These changes will increase the rigour of qualifications, strengthening the respect in which they are held by employers and universities alike," the education secretary, Michael Gove, said.