CLEAPSS® is:
• a nationwide advisory service for
subscribers,
• for practical science and technology,
• for schools and colleges (including special schools, referral units, etc),
• able to help from nursery education through to A-level or equivalent.
CLEAPSS serves:
• teachers (including head teachers),
• technicians,
• science advisers/inspectors/consultants,
• teacher trainers,
• health and safety advisers,
• architects (working for subscribers),
• other local authority officers,
• school governors.
CLEAPSS covers:
• health and safety including risk assessment,
• chemicals, living organisms, equipment,
• sources of resources,
• laboratory design, facilities and fittings,
• technicians and their jobs,
• some D&T facilities and fittings.
CLEAPSS provides support for a consortium of local authorities. It is controlled by its
members, ie:
• all LEAs throughout the British
Isles (not Scotland), ie, 100% of those eligible.
It has around 2000 associate members, ie:
• foundation and voluntary-aided
schools (where not a member via a local authority),
• independent schools,
• incorporated colleges,
• teacher-training establishments and science learning centres,
• overseas institutions,
• field centres, museums, etc,
• curriculum developers.
CLEAPSS provides:
• termly newsletters for primary and
secondary schools,
• a range of publications, mostly free (see below),
• model risk assessments,
• special risk assessments,
• low-cost training courses for technicians, teachers and local authority officers,
• a telephone Helpline which takes almost 7000 calls per year,
• a monitoring service, eg, for mercury spills,
• evaluations of equipment,
• discounts from some suppliers,
• advice on repairs.
Publications include:
• Hazcards®,
• CLEAPSS Laboratory Handbook,
• Model Risk Assessments for Design and Technology in Secondary Schools,
• CD-ROMs of Science and Design & Technology publications,
• Recipe Cards,
• Student Safety Sheets,
• Guides on over a hundred specialist topics such as:
Fume Cupboard Datasheets,
Small Mammals,
Magnets for Primary Schools,
Designing and Planning Laboratories,
Glues and Adhesives,
Science for Secondary-aged Pupils with Special Educational Needs,
Technicians and Their Jobs,
Running a Prep Room.
The training courses include:
• general health and safety,
• basic skills for technicians,
• microscope maintenance,
• chemical handling,
• electrical safety testing, basic electricity, basic electronics,
• making simple equipment,
• microbiology,
• safety management (for heads of departments),
• radiation protection supervisor training,
• safety in primary science.
CLEAPSS also works in a less-visible manner to support practical science and
technology. In particular, CLEAPSS is currently or has recently been:
- acting as an expert witness in both criminal and civil court cases;
- working with the Royal Society, the ASE and others to develop a career structure for
school science technicians;
- working with the national Science Learning Centre and Regional Centres;
- collaborating with the Royal Society, the ASE, the DfES and others to develop guidance
for schools on laboratory design;
- producing reports for the Royal Society of Chemistry on health & safety myths in
science and on the mismatch between the equipment and laboratories needed to teach science
in a modern way and what happens in practice;
- working with the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency on matters of
mutual concern, eg, the diposal of surplus radioactive sources;
- working with QCA to advise on the health and safety implications of Schemes of Work and
assessment materials;
working with manufacturers & suppliers - to keep abreast of
latest developments, to find sources of unusual chemicals/equipment, to advise on their
healthy and safe use in schools;
working with publishers and television producers to ensure healthy and safe practices
are described and/or shown;
supporting curriculum developers, including 21st
Century Science, Nuffield, the Salters’ Institute and the Gatsby Science Enhancement
Programme, with proposed practical activities;
aiding curriculum development in safety by preparing Student Safety Sheets to
support the teaching of the health & safety aspects included in the Science National
Curriculum;
represented on various British Standards committees (eg, fume cupboards, eye protection,
health and safety in school workshops) to ensure standards are appropriate to the needs of
school science and technology;
demonstrating safe but exciting practical techniques on Teachers' TV.
For membership information and details, click here: membership
details.
Click for the:
CLEAPSS Primary Home Page
CLEAPSS Secondary Home Page
CLEAPSS Welcome Page