MPs say that Health & Safety concerns are not an excuse for banning science trips and practicals.

Concerns over health and safety may be being used by teachers in England as an excuse for not providing their pupils with an exciting science education.

A report by the Commons science and technology committee disagrees with suchreasons for keeping science within the classroom, stating that

"On health and safety, we found no credible evidence to support its oft-cited explanation for decline of practicals. and work outside the classroom”.

Ofsted has been asked by the committee to instruct the examination boards to include more field work in science courses, and to examine children’s competence in analysing data they have collected themselves.

In addition, the report suggested that pupils ought to be tested in their laboratory skills and their understanding of the experimental process.