Safety Guidance for School Open Evenings
Guidance for science departments for open evenings
If you’re struggling to find an activity appropriate for science opening evenings, CLEAPSS has produced guidance to help schools and academies plan an exciting and safe opening evening for parents and prospective students.
However, practical activities that are great for science lessons may not be appropriate for a public event like an open evening, no matter how much you want to impress potential students and their parents.
For help with planning safe activities that are still going to ‘wow’ attendees, CLEAPSS’ guide PS058 is now available for members.
Risk Assessments
Hazards that come about during open evenings should be assessed in the same way as any other risk assessment.
Visitors in themselves present a big risk. Risk assessments should take into account the varying knowledge, health and behaviours of visitors.
Risk assessments should be undertaken by the teacher conducting the activity. Consider that visitors could be of any age, and they may be unfamiliar with laboratory rules and how to behave safely.
For example, if the risk assessment for the activity says eye protection must be worn, consider ways in which suitable eye protection is provided for all visitors (adults and children) and is the right size available for younger people? How will this be enforced? Think about supervision of the activity. What is going to be done to make sure visitors don’t walk off with eye protection once the activity is over? Make sure you consider every hazard that may arise out of your activity.
With this in mind, visitors should only partake in an activity if it presents minimal risk or is supervised by a teacher who has assessed the risks to an appropriate degree and all control measures are implemented.
You can download PS058 from CLEAPSS’ website and if you have any questions you can contact their helpline here or phone 01895 251 496.
What is CLEAPSS?
CLEAPSS, or Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services, is an advisory service providing support in science and technology for local authorities and their schools.
They provide:
- Information for science teachers and technicians on all aspects of secondary science, including Bulletins, HazCards, Practical Procedures etc.
- Information for primary teachers of science, technology, art and design, including teaching ideas, doing things safely, primary competition and leadership guidance.
- Information for teachers and managers of resistant materials, textiles, food, art and design and construction. Includes project ideas, model risk assessments, FutureMinds newsletter and management guidance.
Handsam highly recommends that schools and academies get a membership with CLEAPSS as the specialised information and resources they provide is extremely valuable, especially for the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors. You can sign up here.
What Does the Guidance Cover?
In order to present the school in the best light, science departments are encouraged to have active displays for prospective pupils and their parents to see. This resource advises teachers and technicians about activities that are suitable for open evenings.
The guidance includes:
- Example past incidents and what to avoid
- How to risk assess chosen materials and planned activities
- How to consider visitors in the risk assessment
- How to prepare for the activity with the help of technicians and students
- What supervision and security to consider
- A list of common activities
- A list of potentially unsuitable activities