State-funded secondary schools have just 70 per cent of the equipment and materials considered essential to teach practical science.
Research for SCORE – the Science Community Representing Education – finds that the amounts schools are spending on practical science activities varies wildly.
In 2011/12, state secondaries spent as little as 75 pence per student and as much as £31.25, while independent schools spent between £7.18 and £83.21.
In secondary schools, nearly half of teachers said that they do not have enough funding for practical work.
The research also found that some state secondaries have shortages of commonplace equipment such as microscopes, eye protection and connecting leads for circuits, while some teachers said that they lack essential support from qualified technicians for practical work.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday
Already have an account? Sign in here