Essential Features of A School Science Lab

As many UK primary and secondary schools are as of yet unprepared for the changes to the national curriculum to be implemented in September 2014 and the following year, it’s imperative that science departments begin preparing themselves for these changes. This would include preparing themselves to teach the new curriculum as well as making changes to their school science labs so they are able to aptly instruct their pupils in the sciences of biology, chemistry and physics, not to mention astrology and other sciences that will receive greater focus as of this September.

Types of science rooms and labs
There is no uniform school science room to create in readiness for the changes to the national school curriculum and obviously different grades require different rooms and access to different equipment, so this must of course be taken into consideration when making changes to school science rooms and labs.
Perhaps the most common form of school science rooms and labs is the combination classroom/laboratory, a room that provides space for students to receive classical tuition facing the board as the teacher instructs, with laboratory equipment and furniture placed around the sides and at the back of the classroom out of the way. Most rooms of this nature would also feature a lab bench with equipment in a position so that pupils can watch the teacher demonstrate and conduct experiments, usually at the front of the room.
Additional laboratories are often used for certain subjects, most notably chemistry, and labs of this nature are generally dedicated to a particular branch of science and therefore only used for the teaching of that branch of science. However, not all schools enjoy a budget that would allow for the creation of a lab dedicated to a particular branch and would therefore more likely have a combination classroom/laboratory.
Essential features of a good school lab
Regardless of the extent of the budget that your school has to work with, there are certain features that are widely considered to be essential for science instruction and of course health and safety, an important consideration that cannot be overlooked for obvious reasons.
First aid kit – A comprehensive first aid kit is essential and is also a legal requirement for all school science labs and rooms. For labs/rooms in which chemistry experiments will take place a shower is generally also a requirement as this will be used if chemicals come into contact with the pupils or teacher.
Safety floors – Specialised flooring is essential in science rooms and labs and will need to meet the high standards outlined by Government legislation.
Prep room or area – The prep room/area is where chemicals and/or equipment will be stored out of reach of students. Prior to conducting demonstrations and experiments this is where the teacher will prepare the equipment and materials that will be used.
Storage room or cabinet – This room or cabinet is located in the prep room/area and is used to keep dangerous materials and expensive equipment out of reach of the pupils. The room or cabinet should have a good lock and the key should be kept with the teacher or assistants at all times.
Fume extractor – A requirement in all school science labs, a fume extractor cupboard or system is essential in all labs where chemicals are used.
Teacher work or demonstration area – The teacher work or demonstration area should be located in a position so that all pupils can easily see what is being demonstrated. Therefore this area is usually located in the front or centre of the room.
Student work area – These are lab counters designed for student use. They are usually located in a position that affords the students a good view of the teacher work or demonstration area and are generally equipped with basic laboratory equipment including gas taps, sinks and storage cabinets.
School science departments find it advantageous to have their school science labs/rooms outfitted by specialised service providers – like classroom furniture provider Interfocus at www.mynewlab.com – because of stringent health and safety requirements. Moreover, by working with experienced classroom/laboratory outfitting firms, school science departments find themselves in possession of classrooms/laboratories that enable their teachers to provide pupils with outstanding tuition and understanding of the sciences.