Health and safety legislation and practical chemistry teaching in schools

The UK requires well qualified scientists with a sound grounding in practical science.

However both the amount of practical chemistry teaching in schools, and in some cases its quality, have declined in recent years.

The requirements of health and safety legislation are often cited as a major reason for this. In fact legislation does not "ban" any chemicals or procedures likely to be used in school chemistry. Furthermore the risk management procedures that apply to practical chemistry teaching in schools also apply to other sciences and to other areas such as physical education in schools.

• Full version of the guidance recently issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry