Lately, there’s been a lot of concern about the decline of hands-on science activities in schools. Scientists like Brian Cox and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, speaking for the Royal Society, have raised the alarm that reducing practical science could cause students to feel disconnected from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. This hands-on engagement is crucial for inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem solvers.
(See TES article here: https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/drop-in-science-practicals-detrimental-warn-brian-cox-maggie-aderin-pocock)
But simply bringing back more practical experiments isn’t enough. We need to make sure these activities are intentional and well-integrated into the broader learning process. Otherwise, they risk becoming nothing more than busywork, missing the real point of practical science: to help students truly understand and engage with scientific ideas.
A report by Professor Sir John Holman, developed with the Gatsby Foundation, called Good Practical Science, provides helpful guidance on how to improve practical science education. It sets out 10 key benchmarks, with the central message being that practical science must have purpose. Every experiment should be designed to support students' understanding, not just for the sake of ticking off an activity. Let’s consider why this matters.
The Power of Purpose
When practical science is done with intention, it has the potential to transform how students view and experience STEM. It helps connect the dots between the theory they learn in the classroom and how that theory applies in the real world. By engaging students in well-planned hands-on work, they develop important skills like observation, measurement, and critical thinking. And according to the Good Practical Science report, this is key to helping them in future STEM careers.
Unfortunately, many students experience something known as “cookbook science,” where they follow a set of instructions without truly understanding the principles behind what they’re doing. While they may be able to complete the experiment, they miss out on the deeper learning and critical thinking that should come with it. Practical work done in this way doesn’t help them connect the science to broader concepts or real-world applications.
Professor Holman’s report emphasises the need to align practical activities with clear learning objectives. Teachers should have a solid reason for every experiment they conduct, ensuring that it builds on what students are learning in the classroom. Without this connection, practical work can become a distraction rather than a meaningful part of the learning process. While students may enjoy a break from traditional lessons, practical science should enhance their understanding of scientific concepts and processes—not just provide a fun distraction.
The Purposes of Practical Science
The Good Practical Science report identifies five main purposes of practical science, and these offer a helpful framework for thinking about how hands-on learning fits into the bigger picture. The five purposes are:
- Teaching scientific inquiry
- Improving theoretical understanding
- Developing practical skills
- Motivating and engaging students
- Building skills like teamwork and perseverance
Of these, teaching students how to think scientifically—through enquiry, experimentation, and problem-solving—is one of the most important. However, this area is often underdeveloped in schools. Instead of engaging students in genuine enquiry, teachers frequently guide them through set experiments designed to confirm known theories. While this approach might feel safer or easier to manage, it doesn’t encourage students to explore or think critically about the problems they are solving.
Motivation and Engagement: The Heart of Practical Science
One of the biggest advantages of practical science is its ability to engage and excite students. Hands-on activities can inspire a sense of discovery and curiosity, giving students a taste of the excitement that comes with scientific inquiry. When done right, practical work can ignite a passion for STEM that motivates students to pursue further studies in the field.
However, it’s important to recognise that this excitement needs to go beyond just the novelty of the activity. For hands-on learning to have a lasting impact, it must encourage critical thinking, not just follow a set of instructions. If students are motivated by meaningful, thought-provoking experiments, they are far more likely to develop a deep interest in science and carry that curiosity with them throughout their education and careers.
The key is to design practical activities that are challenging and purposeful. When students see the relevance of what they’re doing—and are given the opportunity to think deeply about it—they become more engaged, not just with the task at hand, but with science itself.
TLDR: Making Practical Science Count
It’s clear that the decline of hands-on science in schools is something that needs to be addressed. But bringing back practical science isn’t enough; we need to make sure that it’s done with purpose and integrated thoughtfully into the curriculum. Practical science should be more than just performing experiments—it should be about teaching students to think critically, to ask questions, and to explore.
By aligning practical science with clear learning goals and embracing a more inquiry-based approach, we can ensure that students don’t just enjoy science, but really understand it. Purposeful practical science can motivate students to pursue STEM careers and equip them with the skills they’ll need to succeed in those fields. With the right approach, we can make sure that students not only enjoy hands-on science, but also leave the classroom inspired and prepared for the challenges ahead.
Next steps: If you would like to find out more about purposeful practical science check out this collection of resources, videos and CPD courses https://www.stem.org.uk/secondary/resources/collections/good-practical-science/2-purposeful-practical-science