Good practice

Primary Science Quality Mark

The Primary Science Quality Mark is an award scheme to enable primary schools across the UK to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their science provision. Schools can achieve bronze, silver and gold awards.

Health and safety

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act Regulations, everyone working in school science is obliged to observe a risk assessment before taking part in any activity (class practical exercise, teacher demonstration, operation by a technician etc) where there is a hazard. You can use published assessments as guidance for how to act in your own circumstances.

Primary science:

Ealing local authority (LA) has adopted the ASE publication Be Safe! as the standard source of risk assessments for primary school science. Primary school teachers should follow the guidance as given in this book.

Prices and ordering details for ASE publications can be found on the Association for Science Education website. Primary schools should ensure that they purchase and use the current edition of Be Safe!

Secondary science:

The LA has its own publication instructions to science teachers and technicians, which should be made available to all teachers and technicians in high school science departments. This explains when risk assessments are needed and the expected local response to published assessments. It also explains how to obtain information and guidance when a published assessment cannot be found. Emergency and other procedures for teachers in Ealing high schools are also given.

For additional advice on risk assessments
Ealing science teachers may contact the CLEAPSS helpline on: 01895 251496
Visit CLEAPSS for more information.