Practical science

Practical work is at the heart of science education. It helps students to gain:

• hands-on experience of science, particularly when they do independent research projects
• the skills that are necessary for higher education and employment
• a deeper appreciation of scientific methods.

Teachers must have the skills, confidence and resources to deliver high-quality practical work, as well as enough time and support to prioritise it. 

Research into practical science

Since 2013, there have been changes to the way practical science is assessed at GCSE and A level. To help us explore the best way to assess practical science skills we are:

• supporting work by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation to monitor the impact of the changes
• funding new research, together with the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Royal Society, through our Assessing Practical Science Skills in Schools and Colleges scheme.

Student-led independent research projects

We’re supporting the Institute for Research in Schools, so that more school children have the opportunity to do authentic independent research projects.

In April 2016 we published a rapid evidence review of the value of student-led independent research projects [PDF 873KB]. We also published our reflections on the review [PDF 2.1MB], highlighting the key findings and possible next steps.

We’re continuing to explore the impact of independent research projects on students’ attitudes towards and understanding of science.

We’ve developed a number of resources for students interested in carrying out independent research projects, including the Extended Project Qualification. These are available on the Big Picture website.

• Science education is one of our priority areas – find out more about what we're doing to inspire teachers and students.
• See our educational resources for teachers.