Schools 'should inspire young scientists with hands-on lab fun' experiments

Hair-raising: a pupil at the Young Scientist Centre observes the effects of static from a Van Der Graaf Generator
Miranda Bryant12 April 2012

A leading London scientist today criticised the way the subject is taught in schools.

David Porter, managing director of the Royal Institution's new Young Scientist Centre, which opens today, said science lessons were not "hands on" enough.

The centre, free for state schools to use and funded by L'Oreal and a pool of companies, lets pupils do "lab-style" experiments such as designing car parts, make their own shampoo and extract their DNA.

A One Poll survey, commissioned by L'Oreal and the research body, today showed nearly 60 per cent of science pupils carry out experiments once a fortnight or less - Key Stage Three pupils on average have six hours of science lessons every two weeks. It found they want lessons to be "relevant to real life".

Mr Porter said: "Without practical experience, science doesn't stick. Even schools with good practice are constrained by the curriculum." Royal Institution director Baroness Greenfield said: "We want students to enjoy a different approach."

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: "The secondary curriculum, far from being constraining, makes it clear practical skills are something that pupils need."

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