Waking up one morning, I reflected on a life spent in science at industry, university and school. Back then, science was about getting your hands dirty - in a non-toxic and non-harmful way. It ensured that we experience the joy and disappointment in practical science and experiments - the doing, the making, the learning, the trying, the understanding, the failing and the excitement.
In 2013, research commissioned by SCORE (Science Community Representing Education) noted that a worrying number of students were not experiencing ‘a complete and authentic education in the sciences’ due to a lack of resources for practical work. The research noted that state-funded secondary schools and sixth form colleges had just 70% of the equipment essential for teaching science subjects. The situation was even worse in primary schools, with teachers having access to only 46% of the materials required.
Previous reports showing a lack of access to microscopes, consumables and connecting leads for circuits showed the difficulties qualified technicians face when supporting science teachers carrying out practical work. Science is about inspiring students to follow science further, through academic or technical routes, while giving them practical skills and attitudes that will be valuable and positive in their future STEM careers.
Last summer, STEM Learning successfully delivered ten intensive STEM Camps across the south east of England with ten state-funded secondary schools – and evaluation has shown the hugely positive impact these camps have had on both students and teachers. They were generously funded by Goldman Sachs Gives, and ensured a space to re-engage students with a new motivation for learning, complementing young people’s core scientific and computing knowledge, essential to future exam success.
Each camp ran over a four days, with each day dedicated to either Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Computing. It also included an inspirational and aspirational session delivered by an amazing group of role models from industry and research - STEM Ambassadors. This session provided an opportunity for students to learn more about careers in STEM and helped to contextualise aspects of science and computing while also valuing the importance of practical science and computing.
Before the camps, each school undertook a needs analysis on subject areas and topics in science. This showed concerns in terms of understanding and progress within topics in the Year 9/Year 10 curriculum. 20 students were then identified by each school as needing support to fulfil their potential and were therefore selected for the camps.
Feedback from teachers demonstrated the value and importance of these camps:
“As Head of Science, I am deeply grateful to STEM Learning for generously providing our school with a week of captivating and hands on practicals. This invaluable opportunity has ignited a spark of curiosity within our students, allowing them to explore the wonders of science in a truly engaging and memorable way.”
“STEM Learning has not only enriched our curriculum but has also empowered our students to become enthusiastic problem solvers, critical thinkers, and future innovators.”
There was also great feedback from the students:
“This week has made me realise I want to take up a job in a STEM related career.”
“Entertaining, inspiring and knowledgeable. I would 100% do this again.”
And parents:
“My child felt honoured to be selected from their year group and has come home smiling every single day. Thank you to you all for providing this chance for our children.”
The pandemic is still continuing to have an impact on the delivery of practical science and associated practical skills on young people. In some cases, schools are still not providing students with aspects of hands on practical experience, resorting instead to demonstrations or remote/recorded practical activity, due to time pressures or a lack of specialist teachers.
Curriculum and subject leaders need to consider and adjust their science provision so that it facilitates the development and progression of practical science skills - reducing gaps in knowledge, misconceptions and insecure knowledge, particularly where these might present difficulties in curriculum progression.
At a time when some Early Career Teachers (ECTs) may not have much experience in teaching practical skills, and more experienced teachers may have not delivered practical lessons as regularly as in the past, now is a crucial time to reflect on the purpose and effectiveness of practical science in the curriculum.
Ensuring science teachers can access practical CPD is vital. Practical science is a hugely important aspect of science education at all stages and the objective is fundamentally the same - giving a new generation of up-and-coming scientists and technologists the scientific ideas and theories that demonstrate how scientists and technologists work, both in industry and research. Getting your hands dirty as science teachers, not just pupils, with the core subject knowledge, will allow young minds to explore the wonderful world that science and computing has to offer beyond school. STEM Learning has an excellent range of CPD focusing on teaching practical science, mostly subsidised too – I’ve added links to key courses at the end of the blog!
So what inspired me to fall in love with science (remember computing was a figment of my imagination then, yes that old)? It was a great chemistry teacher, Mr Harradine, who made water from a column of hydrogen and a column of oxygen, behind a Perspex shield. Mixing the two gases together, adding a spark which provided sufficient heat and activation energy to start the reaction, and hey presto - instant water. The noise, the excitement, the broken shield, the bang, the fire alarm, diving for cover and the fire brigade outside all imprinted on my mind. It was my moment of inspiration in science!
Useful links
Effective A level practical work – biology
Effective A level practical work - chemistry
Effective A level practical work - physics
Chemistry for non-specialists
Read the final evaluation report into the 2023 STEM Camps here
Did you enjoy this blog? If so, click 'like' at the top of the page!