Are your children doing science practicals?

[CountessFrog]

Curious to know.

My Y7 child announced this morning that she hates science in her new school. It’s all book work, they can’t do anything practical because they are being taught in history classrooms.

The science rooms are part of the Y9 zone of the school.

Is this a common experience? Surely some kids will develop a better understanding of (and interest in) science if they’ve been allowed to do practicals?

Yes this is common. Even GCSEs have removed the requirement for them to do practicals - they just have to watch a video.

Yes it’s shit. Have a rummage on YouTube; you can do a lot of the year 7 science practicals at home with her. And reassure her that it’s not the school or science that’s boring, just the pandemic!

My children are much younger but SIL is a secondary science teacher and yes apparently (she finds it boring too!). Rubbish isn’t it. As someone who did a science degree it concerns me it might turn kids off science 😢

My daughter is in Y8. No practicals either.

Even if they were able to use science classrooms all equipment would need to be thoroughly cleaned after use. A class of 30 children means it will take the science technician a very long time to do, some equipment would also be too difficult to clean, such as cell holders, delivery tubes etc.

There are children in year 11 who cannot complete their d&t projects in some schools, its shit for everyone involved.

No.
Art, DT, Textlies all design work too.
Pencil and pencil crayon.

They are playing netball in PE (which is great) but they can’t wear the bibs to mark out the teams & positions

My son is in Yr10. No practicals which is gutting for him as he loves science.

Well I’m reassured it’s not just our school, but really worried how this impacts all of those subjects.

Neither of my kids is particularly interested in science but they ‘suffer’ it. The eldest is in y11 and her practicals are demonstrated because she’s taught in a science room at least. She’s on track for grade 8 science next year despite it being her least favourite subject.

I cannot honestly see my youngest child achieving the same grades, even though she’s be equally capable of it if interested enough. Like most kids, she also has no choice but to take science options at GCSE. It will be interesting to see what happens with this cohort of kids.

(And thanks for the tip about y7 practicals on YouTube. DH has science A levels, he can do that job!)

My ds is year 7, yes he's doing practicals and they are using all the equipment in DT too. Its a smallish independent school.

I reckon year 7 have got time to make this up. I’m not overly worried about my year 8 either. My year 11 is off for another 2 weeks SI and currently trying to work through an English Language revision session on his own; it looks boring as hell. My eldest is a first year at uni, being set a load of reading she can’t do because she can’t get to the library. This is all awful, isn’t it?

MissyB1 - well, quite. We knew there wasn’t any kind of level playing field going on. This is why this year’s GCSEs and A levels need drastic change!

The gap between private and state has exploded, hasn’t it? So sad.

Its such a bloody shame. and yes I thank my lucky stars that I can afford a private school, because state school kids have really drawn the short stick in this pandemic and I really feel for them.
There hasn't been a single Covid case at ds school, and no one has had to self isolate. But we are in a very low risk area.

Yeah, no Science practicals, no access to Music/Art Equipment and no ICT for my Y7.

They are somehow doing most of these as theory.....but in ICT they can use the time for homework or reading. I stay calm by reminding myself most of them could teach ICT themselves.

No science practicals and no DT practical either for lower years here. There are science live demos where possible but the labs are only in year 10/11 areas as they prioritised GCSE students in the areas with labs.

No clue about GCSE DT but the DT classrooms are totally separate from main area so they may be able to continue cooking etc with good cleaning regimes.

No science practicals. Simple cooking set as homework for Food Tech. I'm not sure about art.

No science, art practicals, DT or food tech. Sounds bloody boring! No positive tests at my daughter's secondary either (yet!). I wish we could afford private school for the opportunities it offers. Poor teachers, behaviour must be getting worse in state schools with no practical outlet.

My Y9 DS isn't and he hates it. No practicals in tech subjects either, although he's less bothered about that because he's meant to be doing needlework this term!