Lesson planner · classroom toolsScience Practical Risk Assessment
A starter risk assessment for a class practical: chemicals, heating, glassware, space and pupils' needs. Check it against your department's model assessments and CLEAPSS or SSERC guidance before the lesson.
Starting points – Check every row against your school's policy and the venue's own risk assessment, and add what is specific to your group.
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This supports, but does not replace, your school's or employer's policy. The visit leader, EVC or head teacher must check and approve it.
Start from your department's model risk assessments
Most UK schools don't write science risk assessments from scratch. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, schools and local authorities usually subscribe to CLEAPSS, which provides guidance and model risk assessments (such as Hazcards and recipe cards) for practical science. In Scotland, SSERC provides the same kind of support to its members. Your department adopts these and the class teacher checks them for this class, this room and this lesson. That last step is what this page helps with.
What to check before the lesson
Before
- Read the model assessment for the practical (department, CLEAPSS or SSERC)
- Check concentrations and amounts with the technician
- Check the room: eye protection, extraction, gas and water, fire blanket
- Think about this class: behaviour, numbers, pupils with needs (by initials)
- Note anything you've changed from the model assessment
On the day
- Safety briefing before pupils start
- Eye protection on; hair tied back; bags away
- Stop the class if something goes wrong
Afterwards
- Record any accident or near miss
- Tell the technician about breakages or spills
- Add notes for next time
When you need a special risk assessment
If a practical isn't covered by your department's model assessments, or you're changing it (a stronger concentration, a demonstration instead of a class practical, a new organism), ask your head of department. CLEAPSS and SSERC members can ask their advice lines. Write down what you've changed and why.
Keep pupils' details out of it
Write "Pupil A" or initials, and say where the confidential plan is kept ("held by the visit leader"). Names, medical details and contact numbers belong in the school's own system, not in a risk assessment that gets printed, emailed and left on a coach seat. Everything you type here stays in this browser.
Sources and further reading
We link to these so you can read the original guidance; we haven't copied it. Check for updates, and follow your school's or local authority's own policy where it says more.
Questions teachers ask
Do science teachers have to write a risk assessment for every practical?
Schools usually adopt model risk assessments (for example from CLEAPSS or SSERC) and the teacher checks them for their class and room. A specific assessment is needed when a practical isn't covered or is changed.
What is the difference between CLEAPSS and SSERC?
CLEAPSS supports practical science, D&T and art mainly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; SSERC does a similar job for schools in Scotland. Both are membership services, usually through the local authority.
Can I copy CLEAPSS Hazcards into this template?
Don't copy them here. Refer to the relevant model assessment by name or number, and use this template to record the extra points for your class.