Good Practical Science
The Gatsby Foundation is committed to supporting practical science in Schools and colleges.
The Good Practical Science report launched in September 2017 by Sir John Holman and provides a framework with a series of ten benchmarks for you to use when planning your own approach to delivering practical science.
Sir John Holman is Senior Advisor to the Gatsby Foundation, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of York. He is President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2016–2018), founding director of the National STEM Learning Centre and a former headteacher and science teacher.
"Experimentation gives science its identity. Science uses experiments to discover the realities underlying the world, and this practical approach seems to be as intrinsic to young learners as it is to professional researchers. Many of the ingredients of good practical science are the ingredients of all good science learning – expert teachers, well-planned lessons and technical support. So, much of what we recommend in the report relates to good science teaching in general. We judge that by world standards, the UK is well equipped with school laboratory facilities, and these benchmarks suggest how to make the best use of them."
