Overview

Science teaching has a very good health and safety record. However there are pitfalls to trap the early career science teacher as there are many hazardous chemicals, living organisms, and unfamiliar pieces of equipment and procedures in use in school laboratories. 

As well as knowing how to work safely, early career teachers need to develop the skills needed to run a successful and safe practical lesson. 

Who this course is for

This course is ideal for secondary science laboratory technicians teaching Key Stage 3 and 4 (KS3 and KS4).

Teaching and structure

Activities in the lab that commonly give rise to problems will be highlighted and discussed, and there will be opportunities to discuss each participant’s own safety concerns. On this course you will look at model risk assessments, such as Hazcards, and consider how these can be used to address problems presented by a particular activity, school, room or class.

You will also look at the importance of adopting control measures, such as eye protection, and of sticking to agreed procedures. 

The session dealing with emergencies will look at Immediate Remedial Measures for personal injuries and other incidents. 

There will be 4 sessions:

•    Safety in school science; 
•    Risk assessment and dealing with emergencies;
•    How to make the best use of CLEAPSS resources;
•    Dealing with issues raised by participants  including learning from past accidents.

Learning outcomes

The objectives for this course are to:
•    Raise the awareness of health and safety matters affecting  new science teachers;
•    Fulfill, in part, the obligation on employers to provide health and safety training for new staff;
•    Develop an understanding of risk assessment;
•    Allow participants to share concerns about health and safety matters;
•    Further develop skills and techniques for running a successful practical lesson.

Certificates

You'll get a certificate of attendance on completing the course.

Costs and booking

Price per participant is £180 and it includes course materials and packed lunch.

If you are not able to pay by credit/debit card, an invoice will be raised for upfront payment. If this is your preferred method of payment, email ioe.shortcourses@ucl.ac.uk to enquiry how to book this course if you wish to pay by invoice.

Course team

Matt Endean for CLEAPSS

Matt Endean works as an adviser for CLEAPSS.

CLEAPSS provides advice and guidance on all aspects of practical work in science, technology and art. This guidance explores ideas for exciting and engaging practical activities that fire pupils' imaginations and then, unlike many alternative resources, goes on to show teachers and technicians, in detail, how to translate these ideas into safe and exciting classroom experiences.

CLEAPSS has in excess of 28,000 schools and colleges in membership, predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where its advice is recognised by HSE, DFE and OFSTED as representing best practice in these areas and as such it is used by employers as the basis for them to discharge their responsibilities under the H&S at work act, 1999.

Course information last modified: 1 Dec 2023, 17:17