Practical limitations

Working at CLEAPSS provides a unique, if at times slightly jaundiced, view of the state of practical work in the nation’s schools. For example, on a recent science department audit, an otherwise positive and well organised head of science reflected to the CLEAPSS adviser that if a practical activity was too dangerous, they wouldn’t do it. Fair enough, but they then went on to qualify this observation along the lines of: ‘It’s fine if you don’t do practical work because it’s optional, a bit like icing on a cake – nice but not essential.’ Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.

Many heads of science give ‘Because it’s required by the exam’ as their main reason for doing practical work.

Imagine for a moment that you wake up one morning to find that school science is no longer a practical subject...