Bangladeshi, black and Chinese students are also more likely than white students with the same attainment to progress to A-Level. The Royal Society

Ethnic students are more likely to study maths and science at A-level than their white counterparts with the same attainment levels.

The Independent says that the report on maths and science by The Royal Society, found that white youngsters are "known to develop the idea that success in mathematics comes from being naturally gifted". Asian and Chinese youths, however, are more likely to believe that success comes from hard work.

The report also warns of a general decline in take-up of maths and science subjects during the past decade. "Between 1996 and 2007, the proportions of 17-year-olds in each of the four UK nations taking chemistry, physics and mathematics have actually shrunk,"

"In England, Northern Ireland and Wales no more than 6 per cent of 17-year-olds took A-Level physics in any one year. For chemistry, the figure was 7 per cent and for biology and mathematics it was 12 per cent."

"In chemistry, Pakistani students are 7.2 times more likely and Indian students 4.3 times more likely than white students with the same level of attainment at GCSE to progress to A-Level,"

"Bangladeshi, black and Chinese students are also more likely than white students with the same attainment to progress to A-Level.

"A similar pattern can be seen in mathematics, with Chinese students being 4.7 times more likely to progress, Indian students 3.4 times more likely and Pakistani, Bangladeshi and black students also more likely to progress."

"Negative attitudes are linked to a view of the science curriculum in England as overly full, fact-laden and hard. The situation is worrying, given the needs of industry for science, technology, engineering and mathematical (STEM) skills, the Government's stated desire to increase the number of STEM graduates, and the need for more science and mathematics teachers."

Speaking about the report, Professor Michael Reiss, director of education at the Royal Society, said: "Science and mathematics education, particularly in England, has been assaulted by reform over the last 20 years. "Unless we break the cycle of politically motivated knee-jerk reactions and constant change, we are in danger of never giving reforms the time they need to bed in.

"Therefore [we are] not getting to grips with what works and what doesn't."

Last month the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggested that Widening interest for science could be achieved by automatically entering bright pupils for triple-award science at GCSE.