Science teacher told that switching sockets off saves electricity

Ohyesiam
Most secondary schools are academies so exempt from the national curriculum.
The KS3 national curriculum isnt very detailed anyway.

This is the KS3 National Curriculum for Science
The principal focus of science teaching in key stage 3 is to develop a deeper understanding of a range of scientific ideas in the subject disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics. Pupils should begin to see the connections between these subject areas and become aware of some of the big ideas underpinning scientific knowledge and understanding. Examples of these big ideas are the links between structure and function in living organisms, the particulate model as the key to understanding the properties and interactions of matter in all its forms, and the resources and means of transfer of energy as key determinants of all of these interactions. They should be encouraged to relate scientific explanations to phenomena in the world around them and start to use modelling and abstract ideas to develop and evaluate explanations.

Pupils should understand that science is about working objectively, modifying explanations to take account of new evidence and ideas and subjecting results to peer review. Pupils should decide on the appropriate type of scientific enquiry to undertake to answer their own questions and develop a deeper understanding of factors to be taken into account when collecting, recording and processing data. They should evaluate their results and identify further questions arising from them.

‘Working scientifically’ is described separately at the beginning of the programme of study, but must always be taught through and clearly related to substantive science content in the programme of study. Teachers should feel free to choose examples that serve a variety of purposes, from showing how scientific ideas have developed historically to reflecting modern developments in science.

Pupils should develop their use of scientific vocabulary, including the use of scientific nomenclature and units and mathematical representations.

A lot of countries still don't even have switches on sockets!

Why aren’t they following the national curriculum?
Academy and free schools 2/3 of secondaries do not have to

When I was young, sockets did not have switches. We had no idea electricity was leaking from them all over the floor.

Why aren’t they following the national curriculum?

Electrician of 20 years DH says "What a load of bollocks".

Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
That's really not on.

Normally I'd say talk to the teacher directly but in this case I might be inclined to have a look in your DC's book and then call for a chat with the head of department about what the curriculum coverage should be for this term. You may find the curriculum coverage is also on the school website.

As a middle leader, it's sometimes really useful when parents call us up about these things as it adds to what we already are dealing with internally and helps us make the case that someone isn't doing what they should be.

(Of course maybe the curriculum is all about political science issues but I doubt it).

Try using an appliance you’ve plugged into a switched off socket and see what happens.

If course it doesn’t use electricity

I once observed a science lesson in a mainly Muslim school, in which the teacher said "Now we all know that evolution isn't true, however it's still on your exam so we need to cover it anyway"

The science teacher clearly needs to learn more about science, particularly circuits! What a load of nonsense and very worrying that this misinformation is coming from a science teacher.

No way it uses electricity

It never occurred to me that leaving them on uses electricity. Can someone tell us the definitive answer?

I always thought it saved electricity!

Does this teacher teach social science?

I would have thought the socket needs a complete electric circuit (I.e. something plugged in) for it to have an electrical flow

I do this at home, as did my parents. I always thought it saved electricity, 😕