Planning for Practical Science

in Secondary Schools
Contents
Introduction 2

Planning the accommodation 3

Number of laboratories 3
Size of laboratory 3
Other teaching areas 3
Preparation and storage areas 3

Planning principles 4

The laboratory 6
Activities in the laboratory 6
The size and shape of the laboratory 6
Planning guidelines 7
Services distribution 7
Health, safety and environmental issues 8

The preparation room 10

Main storage area 10
Working area 10
Trolley area 10
Office space 10
The chemical store 11
Fume cupboards 11
Radioactive materials 11

Useful resources 12
School laboratories 12
Safety 12
Websites 12

Appendix A Recommended first aid equipment 13

Appendix B Apparatus 14
Physics 14
Chemistry 17
Biology 18

Appendix C Equipment suppliers 21

1
Introduction
Cambridge International Examinations is at the forefront of international assessment. As part of the
University of Cambridge, UK, we have a long history of delivering high quality examinations and
assessments which are now available in over 165 countries through our network of registered Centres.

Cambridge is committed to encouraging positive educational experiences and providing qualifications and
services that are relevant, accurate, reliable, cost effective and internationally recognised. Our qualifications
are designed for all, being available for a wide range of abilities and age groups.

Introduction to this booklet

The effective delivery of a science curriculum requires an emphasis on practical work whatever the level.
Science lessons contain a variety of activities including teacher demonstrations, practical work by pupils,
reading, making notes and so on. Science accommodation needs to be able to cope with this range of
activities and, as a result, requires careful planning and management.

This booklet has been produced to provide some guidance for headteachers, science specialists, school
governors and ministry officials who may be involved in the design and commissioning of new science
accommodation, or the refurbishing of existing accommodation.

The focus of the booklet is the provision for students aged 11–16 in secondary schools. However, much of
the general guidance provided could be applied to the provision for older students. For a list of additional
equipment for the higher age group see also Appendix B. The guidance is not intended to be definitive, but
to provide ideas that may be adapted to suit local conditions. As well as examining possibilities for science
laboratories, ideas and additional information for support areas and services are provided.

Whilst many of the ideas in this booklet assume mains services of gas, electricity and water, it is
acknowledged that these are far from universally available. In many schools spirit burners may be used for
junior classes, but whilst these are suitable for many situations, they do not permit heating to high enough
temperatures for some experiments. Portable gas burners are more flexible, and produce higher
temperatures, but even these may not permit some experiments to be carried out.

Delivery of modern science courses can also require a good deal of material, other than practical apparatus.
Books, posters, worksheets, examination papers and records all need to be stored somewhere. Some
schools may also have videos, CD-ROMs and other resources as well. Often these are best kept in an office
away from the laboratories or the preparation room, but must not be forgotten.

Every care has been taken to ensure that the information and advice supplied in this booklet is
accurate and takes due account of recent recommended safe practice. However laws, local rules
and recommendations vary in different regions. It is imperative that all such regulations be
consulted and adhered to. The Useful resources section is intended for guidance where such
regulations may not exist.

2
Planning the accommodation
The information provided in this booklet has been compiled as a guide to both planning new laboratories and
adapting existing facilities.

Science teaching needs a variety of different areas including laboratories, stores, technician workshops or
preparation rooms, resource areas and office space for teachers. Siting all the science accommodation in
one area is usually more economical in terms of both teachers’ and technicians’ time. This can also result in
more efficient use of preparation and storage space, and reduce the overall equipment needs for science.
The following may be used as a general guide when considering the requirements of a particular school.

Number of laboratories
The school will need to examine carefully its curriculum, timetable and staffing when planning its provision of
science laboratories. Possible future requirements should also be taken into account.

The number of teaching periods available will depend on the availability and deployment of science teachers.
Decisions on this and on the proportion of pupils’ time to be spent on science determine the average size of
the teaching groups. Group sizes and the amount of curriculum time spent on science varies from school to
school. In an 11–18 school, account must be taken of any A Level courses that are offered.

The efficient use of laboratories and other science teaching areas is important, but schools will probably find
it difficult to achieve a frequency of use higher than 90% because of the complexities of timetabling.

Size of laboratory
If all the laboratories in a suite are the same size, there should be few constraints on timetabling them.
Flexibility can be enhanced if all the laboratories can accommodate the likely maximum size of class.

The size and shape of existing laboratories frequently varies, but in general spaces of 85 m2 are suitable for
a maximum group size of 30 pupils. However, in some situations, for example where a school has a large
sixth form, it may be appropriate to provide some small specialist laboratories.

The size of a new laboratory will depend on the maximum group size expected rather than the calculated
average. The range of activities being undertaken and the level of storage in the laboratory will also need to
be taken into consideration.

Other teaching areas

Certain supplementary teaching areas can be valuable additions to the science suite where space allows, for
example a small resources area. This space can provide a focus to the department, with displays of pupils’
work and a poster area to show new scientific developments. Common resources such as books and
computers can also be kept here, avoiding duplication in each laboratory.

Preparation and storage areas

Preparation and storage areas of around 0.5 m2 per pupil place are needed to support the teaching. Where
the laboratories are dispersed, or on two floors, this figure may need to be increased to allow for some
duplication of resources. A shared staff office can be useful for meetings and preparation work, as well as
the secure storage of paperwork such as pupils’ records and coursework.

3
Planning principles
There are two main types of arrangement:

1. linear;
2. grouped around a central preparation room.

These arrangements are based on a number of principles that aim to make the best use of the space
available.

• Laboratories are grouped together on one or two floors enabling common resources to be shared,
and allowing safer transportation of equipment.
• There is only one preparation area for each floor of laboratories. This provides a more economical
use of space, equipment and technicians’ time. If a preparation room is centrally positioned,
distances to the laboratories are minimised.
• Other teaching areas are located for ease of access. Thus the resource area is located so that it
provides a focus to the department and can be easily accessed by the whole suite.
• The planned arrangement must allow for an exit door from each laboratory to the outside.

The key features of the two plan types are outlined below.

1. Linear
Where the number of laboratories is small (fewer than about six), a linear plan is suitable: the laboratories
and other areas are close enough to give the science department a distinct identity. Also, staff can easily
reach all the working areas. With more than about seven laboratories, the distance between the preparation
room and some of the laboratories makes the transfer of apparatus that much more difficult.

Lab 1 Lab 2 Lab 3

Corridor

Preparation
Lab 4 Staff Lab 5
area

This layout may be modified with laboratories on more than one floor. However, there may be extra
expenditure involved, perhaps owing to the need to install a lift or hoist for heavy items and certainly
because of the need to duplicate some resources to avoid moving heavy or sensitive apparatus up and down
stairs. Extra storage and resource areas may be needed.

2. Central preparation room

Locating the preparation room in the centre of the laboratory suite is suitable for schools with a larger
number of laboratories. It is convenient for the technicians because the preparation room is central to the
suite. Levels of natural light and views from the room, however, will be restricted.

Lab 3 Lab 4

Lab 2

Preparation and
staff areas
Lab 1

Lab 6 Lab 5

4
This plan may be modified with the laboratories around a central courtyard. This requires a greater area than
the plan shown, with greater distances from preparation room to laboratory. Some of the disadvantages of
the illustrated plan are reduced and the courtyard may be suitable for some practical activities.

5
The laboratory
A well-designed laboratory should be able to accommodate a wide range of scientific activities. The size of
the space, the method of distributing services (gas and water) and the choice of furniture systems will all
affect the way in which it can be used. The usefulness of a laboratory will be defined by its size, by the
distribution of electricity, gas and water services and by the furniture chosen.

Activities in the laboratory

Modern science courses place a much greater emphasis on practical work. The range of activities involved
in these courses is diverse and will affect the way in which the laboratory is designed. Some of these
activities are:

• Teacher demonstration of experiments;

• Use of video and ICT;
• Pupils’ experimental work and investigations;
• Discussion;
• Notetaking.

Demonstration
Despite the increasing emphasis on pupils’ own practical activity, the use of the teacher demonstration
should not be underestimated. Such demonstrations may require pupils to group more closely around the
teacher’s bench or in another area of the laboratory. A fume cupboard is one example of such an area.

Use of video and ICT

In some schools it may be possible to make use of a video or personal computer (PC) to illustrate particular
aspects of the curriculum. In these instances, the design of the laboratory should make adequate provision
so that pupils may easily see a monitor, e.g. wall mounted without discomfort or unwanted reflection from the
screen. Pupils may also need to use PCs to access information from CD-ROMs or for use with datalogging
equipment. A video-projector may be useful for class demonstrations.

Pupils’ experimental work and investigations

In many science courses, practical work can take a variety of forms, with pupils working in groups of different
sizes. It is essential that the laboratory provides sufficient space for pupils to work safely, with access to the
full range of appropriate resources. These may be fairly basic, such as Bunsen burners, tripods and mats,
but will also include the necessary services. Investigations will often require practical work in more than one
session. In this case, it will be necessary to provide adequate space for storage of apparatus between
sessions, whilst still allowing the laboratory to be used with other classes.

Discussion and notetaking

These activities can include writing up experiments, class discussion and pupil presentations, perhaps with
the use of the overhead projector (OHP). For these activities it may be desirable to be able to reconfigure the
furniture to allow for some group work.

Display
The science department and individual laboratories can be made much more interesting if well mounted
displays, perhaps of commercially produced posters or, better, pupils’ own work, fill the empty spaces on the
walls. It is worth investing in good pin board, painting it and screwing it to the walls.

The size and shape of the laboratory

A laboratory of 85 m2 is a suitable size for a group of thirty secondary school pupils undertaking both
practical and theory work. This size of laboratory will allow for enough local storage of basic items providing
there is adequate central storage. Allowance may need to be made for more storage if the central store is
small or inconveniently located. Smaller spaces may enforce compromises on the choice of apparatus:
safety considerations may also become more significant. A laboratory of less than 70 m2 may only be useful
for smaller groups of secondary school pupils, or for sixth form groups. Due allowance has to be made for
the safe storage of pupils’ belongings, such as bags and coats.

The shape of the space is almost as important as its size. A simple rectangular shape allows for flexibility of
layout and enables good supervision of pupils. Rooms that are too long and narrow are difficult to arrange
because if the teacher’s bench and board are on the short side of the room, some pupils may have difficulty
in seeing what is going on and may feel remote. On the other hand, if the teacher’s bench is on the long side

6
of the room, the teaching angle can be large, making contact with the whole class difficult.

Planning guidelines
The following guidelines are applicable to a group of around thirty IGCSE/O Level candidates and may form
the basis for evaluating laboratory designs.

• A work surface area of at least 0.3 m2 is allowed for each pupil.

• Each pupil has good access to a full range of services, with a minimum of one gas tap and one socket
outlet per two pupils, and one sink per six pupils.
• Pupils face the teacher and the board whenever possible. Alternatively, pupils should be seated around
the teacher.
• The fume cupboard should be positioned away from the fire exit or main circulation routes for safety
reasons, with good access for groups of pupils during demonstrations.
• Where possible, the teaching wall is placed at 90o to the external wall, to allow good side lighting and to
avoid direct glare from the window.
• An optional computer position is provided close to the teacher to enable supervision, and to maximise
the potential of shared pupil/teacher use. By placing the monitor screen at 90o to the external wall,
problems of glare will be minimised.
• Storage of about 5 m3 is provided for local resources and display, and is concentrated above and below
the perimeter benching. A separate preparation area is assumed within the overall science
accommodation.
• There is adequate floor space at the perimeter for additional mobile storage units such as a general-
purpose trolley.
• A clear area is provided to allow pupils to gather for briefing sessions and the safe demonstration of
fume cupboard experiments. It is important to consider each pupil’s ability to see and hear the teacher
clearly.
• A clear floor length of around 3 m is allowed within the circulation route for runway experiments.

Services distribution
There are three main options for the distribution of services within a laboratory:

• overhead;
• underfloor;
• perimeter.

Within each option there are variations and sometimes two systems may be combined.

Overhead
In this option, services are distributed from a high level, for example through trunking which is attached to the
ceiling or which runs above a false ceiling. Services are then delivered to the benches by means of suitable
cables and pipes. Drainage is provided by the usual gravity method.

This system has advantages in that benches or islands can be serviced in a flexible manner and this has
consequences for the arrangement of furniture. Maintenance is relatively straightforward. However, the
connections from the ceiling to the benches may appear untidy and obstruct the line of sight for some pupils.
The connections themselves may not be robust.

Underfloor
In this option, services may either be run in ducts set into the floor with varying degrees of accessibility or
they may be located in the ceiling void of the room below. Services reach bench-top level via rigid or flexible
connections.

The advantages of an underfloor system are that most arrangements of benches can be serviced easily and
the pipes and cables are all concealed. On the negative side, care must be taken to ensure that water
services and electricity supplies are separated. Also, it may prove difficult to rearrange the furniture in the
future if the service outlets are fixed.

If this kind of system is used, it is essential that access to the service ducts is as easy as possible. It should
not be necessary to dismantle a bench in order to gain access to a duct to add another electrical socket!

7
Perimeter
Perimeter service ducts are usually located at bench level (or just below it) with drainage at a low level. In
this system, the service ducts are accessible yet discreet and the laboratory looks tidy. Modifications are
reasonably easy to implement, but there are restrictions on the servicing of island workstations, which may
require extra spurs.

Health, safety and environmental issues

It is important that all relevant health and safety procedures are followed. Some references are given in the
Useful resources section, but full consideration must also be given to any local regulations. Teachers also
need training so that they are aware of the location of main electrical switches, gas and water stopcocks, first
aid kits and so forth. Supply staff and teachers providing cover for absent teachers must also be briefed as to
the locations of these controls. It is strongly advised that laboratories are not used on a regular basis for
lessons taught by those who are not science specialists.

The following checklist may be useful when considering health, safety and environmental issues.

Ventilation
Is adequate ventilation provided with the windows and ducts that are available? Is the extraction system for
the fume cupboard adequate, and does it discharge at a legal height? Is there an adequate source of fresh
incoming air when the fume cupboard is switched on? Particularly in chemistry laboratories, is there
sufficient ventilation to cope with all the pupils doing chemical experiments at the same time? It may be
necessary to consult local health and safety advisers for assistance in answering such questions.

Lighting
This aspect of laboratory design needs careful attention. Is the lighting system flexible enough for the full
range of activities that take place in the laboratory? Is extra lighting available at each workstation? Is the
lighting system designed to minimise the effects of glare and reflection of boards, screens and benches?
Can light levels be reduced to allow optics experiments to be carried out with ease? (One way of achieving
the latter is to have one light on a dimmer switch in the middle of the laboratory ceiling, which can provide
enough light to allow pupils to read instructions and record readings, with the main lights off and the blinds
drawn.) Blinds should be effective to allow reduced light levels.

Heating and air conditioning

Another important consideration is that of the working temperature in the laboratory. Local regulations may
prescribe a certain range of temperatures in the work place. Can the laboratory easily be heated? Are
radiators so enclosed that convection is restricted? Is the air-conditioning system adequate to cool down the
laboratory if the temperature rises during long experiments involving heating?

Electricity
Is the system correctly wired and protected? Are all appropriate items earthed properly? Is portable electrical
equipment inspected and tested at intervals in line with current best practice and recommendations from the
government or local authorities responsible for health and safety issues. Is a residual current device (RCD)
used to protect the supply in each laboratory? Is this device easily accessible to the teacher, for example
near the main entrance? It may be appropriate to include extra electrical switching. For example, a single
switch at the teacher’s desk may control a ring supplying all the low-voltage power supplies to the laboratory,
so assisting in the control of experimental work. As with the installation and safe use of fume cupboards,
local advice may be sought.

Gas
Each laboratory should have a manual shut-off valve at the pipe entry to the laboratory. A remote control
should be used if this entry position is not easily accessible. Some laboratories have automatic shut-off
systems which are activated in the event of a gas leak.

Fire
Local building and fire regulations must be consulted so that extra exits are provided if necessary. Adequate
fire extinguishers of appropriate types and fire blankets should be provided. Fire equipment inspections
should be carried out in line with the local authority recommendations.

First aid
Local regulations for the supply of first aid materials must be adhered to. Recommendations are provided in
Appendix A.

8
Service ducts, cables and pipes
It is important that all the ducts are easily accessible and well ventilated, especially those carrying gas pipes.
All cables and pipes need to be well supported or fixed to the walls: this is especially necessary where the
servicing system is flexible. Electrical earthing regulations need to be followed.

Flooring
Safety is the key consideration when choosing a floor surface. Old wooden floors must be sealed. Vinyl that
is resistant to most chemicals and slip resistant is often a good choice. The number of joints in the flooring
material should be kept to a minimum.

Benching
Badly stained benching can make a new laboratory look very unkempt very quickly, so it is worth choosing a
material that will not mark easily. Iroko wood, ideally from sustainable sources, is a good option, but it must
be sealed and well maintained. Some synthetic materials, such as cast epoxy resin, are also suitable.

9
The preparation room
The traditional design of science laboratories often included separate preparation rooms for physics,
chemistry and biology. Whilst there are merits in this arrangement, it does not always provide for the best
use of technician time and resources, or allow for the best use of apparatus. The provision of a central
preparation room can provide a better solution in many cases. The preparation room can serve two main
purposes: as the main storage area and as a workroom for the technicians.

The preparation room may also need to accommodate an autoclave, a distillation unit, a fume cupboard and
a secure store for any radioactive materials. Gas cylinders will need to be clamped safely to a wall or bench
within the preparation room. A fridge can be useful for the preparation and storage of ice. The preparation
room should also be equipped to allow for simple construction work in wood or metal and also for electrical
repairs and soldering.

Assuming that there is virtually no apparatus storage in the laboratories, a floor area of 0.5 m2 per pupil
space can be taken as a guide to the size of preparation room required.

The preparation room in a school for 11–14 year olds only will be simpler than the room(s) described in this
section. It will probably serve only one or two laboratories, but it may also be used to prepare trolleys of
equipment for teaching younger pupils in their normal classrooms.

In all the planning of the preparation room, local needs must be taken into consideration.

The main storage area

The main storage area may be best located into one place, preferably alongside the preparation and
cleaning area. Items of equipment used frequently by all pupils (such as tripods, Bunsen burners and
goggles) are usually kept in the laboratory. All other equipment is best kept centrally in the main storage
area, where it can be checked regularly by a technician. Storage may be in the form of free-standing timber
or metal racks providing flexible storage systems, which can be re-arranged to suit the available space.
Careful thought needs to be given to a system of storage, so that items can be found easily by new staff.
One way is to number each shelf and add this location to the inventory.

Small items, such as lenses, can easily go missing. The simplest way to avoid the problem is to construct
boxes with exactly 16 slots, one for each of the 16 lenses, so that the teacher can easily check apparatus at
the end of the lesson. Technicians need to be warned never to put out incomplete sets of equipment! The
same method can be used for the storage of compasses, screwdrivers, protractors, hand lenses and so on.
Although time consuming to start with, the effort is worthwhile.

The working area

This is where glassware is washed and equipment sorted after being returned on trolleys from lessons. In
addition, practical experiments are prepared and small items of equipment are repaired in the working area.

Bench space needs to be provided to allow for:

• washing of glassware and drainage;

• dispensing of chemicals;
• repairing apparatus;
• construction of new apparatus.

The benching must be fully serviced, with sinks, water, gas and electricity, paying due attention to health and
safety, and to wiring regulations.

The trolley area

The easiest way to move apparatus between laboratories is to use trolleys. As a guide, there should be two
trolleys for each laboratory: one in use in the laboratory and one in the preparation room for preparation for
the next lesson. There must be enough space to park the maximum number of trolleys and to allow
circulation alongside. The best location for the parking area is between the main storage area and the
working area.

Office space
Technicians may be required to carry out a number of administrative tasks, such as the updating of the
inventory and the handling of apparatus orders. There also needs to be some space for the storage of

10
books, videos and other resources. This means that some shelving, desk space and perhaps a computer
need to be provided.

The chemical store

It is important that all local regulations are strictly adhered to in this critical area of safety. Heads of science
need to undertake regular reviews to ensure that, for instance, prohibited substances are not being stored
and that excess stocks are not being held. The store should be secure to prevent unauthorised access.

It is usual for bulk supplies to be stored away from the laboratory complex in the school grounds, but away
from areas frequented by pupils. Then, only smaller quantities need to be kept in the preparation room,
accessible to teachers and technicians only.

The chemical store must be well ventilated to the outside air, either by natural means or by mechanical
extraction; full air conditioning is not necessary. The store requires protection from frost, and the door
should open outwards. The floor should be built with a slope to a collection area. The flooring material, for
example quarry tiles, should be impervious to chemicals.

Shelves are best made of wood in case of leaks and corrosive liquids should be kept on the lowest shelves.
Deep shelves can allow materials to become hidden at the back; high shelves (e.g. above shoulder level)
should be avoided because there is a safety risk associated with lifting heavy bottles down from them.
Corrosive chemicals should be stored at or close to ground level.

In the preparation room, it is essential to have a locked cupboard for toxic chemicals and a fireproof cabinet
for flammable liquids. The latter should be designed so that no chemicals will leak from the cabinet, even if
all the contents are spilt.

Fume cupboards
Fume cupboards may be either fixed or mobile. The main advantages of a mobile fume cupboard are ease
of access and visibility for demonstration purposes, and economy of use because one unit can be shared
between a number of laboratories. Mobile fume cupboards may be either ducted or recirculatory in nature.
The ducted type must be attached to a fixed extraction system, whereas the recirculatory type (a self-
contained unit) can be used anywhere, which is particularly useful in conversion schemes. Recirculatory
fume cupboards contain filters that need to be changed at regular intervals. There may be a legal
requirement to test them for saturation. Independent advice may need to be sought regarding this and other
maintenance matters. To ensure flexibility, the overall size of a mobile fume cupboard may need to be
checked against door opening sizes. There are a number of documents providing information on all types of
fume cupboard available. It is important that local regulations regarding the use of fume cupboards be
adhered to.

Radioactive materials
The teaching of most combined science, co-ordinated science and physics courses is enhanced by
demonstrations using radioactive sources. As with chemicals, it is essential that all local regulations be
complied with: indeed, in some areas it may not be possible to obtain such sources for school work. The
sources need to be stored in a locked, labelled cupboard away from any area regularly used by the same
people. It is not a good idea, for example, to place this cupboard in the preparation room above the
technician’s workbench. Access to the cupboard and its keys should be controlled and a log kept of all
movements of the radioactive sources. The sources need careful maintenance and all staff need careful
training in their use.

11
Useful resources
School laboratories
School Science Laboratories (1989), by W E Archenhold, C Jenkins, C and C Wood-Robinson, John Murray,
UK.
Science Accommodation in Secondary Schools (1995) by DfEE, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO),
UK.
Building for Science: A Laboratory Design Guide (1989) by C Elliott, Association for Science Education
(ASE), UK.

Safety
Topics in Safety (1988) by Association for Science Education, 2nd edition, ASE, UK.
Safety Reprints (1996) Association for Science Education, ASE, UK.
Safeguards in the School Laboratory (1996) by Association for Science Education, 10th edition, ASE, UK.
CLEAPSS Laboratory Handbook (2001) by CLEAPSS School Science Service, CLEAPSS School Science
Service*, UK.
CLEAPSS Hazcards (2000) by CLEAPSS School Science Service, CLEAPSS School Science Service*, UK.
(Update of 1995 edition.)
Safety in Science Education (1996) by DfEE, HMSO, UK.

Websites
Association for Science Education safety resources for purchase: www.ase.org.uk/safety/safety0.html
Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services: www.cleapss.org.uk
UK Royal Society of Chemistry: www.rsc.org/lap/rsccom/ehsc/ehsc.htm
US Council of State Science Supervisors: csss.enc.org/safety

Important note
The above lists contains resources that comply with European or United States safety legislation. However,
they must not be taken to be a replacement for local regulations and recommendations. Where these exist
they must be consulted and adhered to.

*
Note that CLEAPSS publications are only available to members or associates.

12
Appendix A Recommended first aid equipment
First aid boxes and travelling first aid kits should contain a sufficient quantity of suitable first aid materials
and nothing else.

Contents of the boxes and kits should be replenished as soon as possible after use in order to ensure that
there is always an adequate supply of all materials. Items should not be used after the expiry date shown on
packets. It is therefore essential that first aid equipment be checked frequently to make sure there are
sufficient quantities and all items are usable.

The first aid equipment should be kept in a labelled, dustproof, damp-proof container, which is used
exclusively and specifically for the purpose of first aid in the workplace.

The standard first aid box should contain only the following materials:

• Card giving general first aid guidance;

• Sterile (unmedicated) dressings of various sizes (e.g. six 12 cm x 12 cm, and two 18 cm x 18 cm
dressings);
• Individually wrapped adhesive dressings (minimum of 20);
• Two sterile eye pads, preferably with attachments;
• Minimum of four individually wrapped triangular bandages;
• Six safety pins;
• One pair of disposable gloves.

The quantities of each type of first aid material will depend upon the workplace/number of students and staff.

Important Advice
In places where mains water is not readily available for eye irrigation, sterile water or sterile normal saline
(0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers should be provided. Each container should contain at least 300 ml
and should not be re-used once the seal is broken. At least 900 ml should be available.

Sterile first aid dressings should be packaged in such a way as to allow the user to apply the dressing to a
wound without touching that part which is to come into direct contact with the wound. That part of the
dressing which comes into contact with the wound should be absorbent. There should be a bandage or
other fixture attached to the dressings and consequently there is no reason to keep scissors in the first aid
box. Dressings, including adhesive ones, should be of a design and type appropriate for their use.

Supplementary Equipment
Disposable gloves, aprons and suitable protective equipment should be provided near the first aid materials
and should be properly stored and checked regularly to ensure that they remain in good condition.

Plastic disposable bags for soiled or used first aid dressings should be provided. You should ensure that
used dressing etc. are safely disposed of in sealed bags in accordance with any local regulations.

Sharps bins are a good way of safely disposing of broken glassware, needles and scalpels and may be a
legal requirement in some countries.

13
Appendix B Apparatus
The particular apparatus found in a science department will be determined by a large number of factors
including the number of laboratories, the size of the school, the number and size of teaching sets being
taught at the same time, as well as the level of funding.

Physics
The following lists are not intended to be exhaustive, but do give an indication of the apparatus used in the
various Practical Examinations of CIE’s Physics syllabuses.

Note: Digital multimeters often provide a cheap and flexible alternative to a range of ammeters and
voltmeters.

IGCSE/O Level
12 V, 24 W filament bulb
ammeter FSD 1 A or 1.5 A
beaker 100 cm3, 250 cm3, 1 litre
Blu-tack
boiling tube, 150 mm x 25 mm
card
cells, 1.5 V
Connecting leads
crocodile clips
d.c. power supply – variable to 12 V
G- clamp
half-metre rule
lens, converging f = 15 cm
low voltage (2.5 V) filament bulbs
masses, 50 g, 100 g
measuring cylinder, 100 cm3, 250 cm3
metre rule
microscope slides
mirror, plane, 50 mm x 10 mm
nichrome wire, 28 swg (0.38 mm)
pendulum bob
pin board
pivot (to fit a hole in metre rule)
plastic or polystyrene cup, 200 cm3
Plasticene
protractor
resistors, various
retort stand, boss and clamp
Sellotape
spring balance, 0.5 N – 1.0 N
springs
stopwatch reading to 0.1 s or better
switch
thermometer, -10 oC to 110 oC at 1 oC
thread
tracing paper
voltmeter FSD 1 V, 5 V
wooden board

A Level (in addition to the list given for IGCSE/O level)

Electrical
Ammeter: (digital or analogue) f.s.d. 100 mA and 1 A
Lamp and holder: 6 V, 60 mA; 2.5 V, 0.3 A
Power supply: variable up to 12 V d.c. (low resistance)
Rheostat
Voltmeter: (digital or analogue) f.s.d 5 V, 10 V
Wire: constantan 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38 s.w.g. or metric equivalents

14
Heat
Long stem thermometer: -10 °C to 110 °C at 1°C
Means to heat water safely to boiling
Metal calorimeter
Stirrer

Mechanics and general items

Balance to 0.1 g
Bare copper wire: 18, 26 s.w.g.
Micrometer screw gauge
Rule (1 m, 0.5 m, 300 mm)
Scissors
Stand, boss and clamp
Stopclock or stopwatch (candidates may use their own reading to 0.1 s or better)
Stout pin or round nail
String/thread/twine
Wire cutters
Wood or metal jaws

In addition
Physics departments vary a great deal in the in the apparatus available for teaching. Many of the items listed
for the practical examinations can be used, with some imagination, to support the teaching of IGCSE, O
Level and A Level Physics and as the basis for IGCSE coursework tasks. Physics equipment is also
expensive and this will almost certainly be a factor. The following is offered as outline guidance for the sorts
of apparatus that Centres may wish to consider for teaching purposes. Often, the same equipment can be
used in a relatively straightforward way at the lower level and then in a more sophisticated way at A Level.

Mechanics
Air track, gliders, light gates (A Level)
Free fall apparatus
Runways, trolleys, ticker timers and power supplies
Turntable (A Level)

Energy
Electric motor
Energy conversion kit
Joulemeter

Heat and properties of matter

Apparatus for conduction, convection and radiation experiments
Apparatus for determination of melting point
Apparatus for determination of specific heat capacity and specific latent heat
Apparatus for illustrating the gas laws Brownian motion apparatus
Apparatus for Young Modulus (A Level)
Marbles and a tray or kinetic model apparatus
Springs and mass sets
Various types of thermometer

Electricity
Apparatus to illustrate electric field patterns
Apparatus to illustrate simple electrostatic phenomena
Capacitors and apparatus for determination of capacitance (A Level)
Different diameters of wire of different materials (copper, constantan, nichrome, etc.)
Set of apparatus for circuit work: cells, voltmeters, ammeters, variable and fixed resistors, lamps, diodes,
thermistors, switches, etc. It is important to choose meter ranges that are appropriate for the power
supplies and the resistors used.

Magnetism
Bar and horseshoe magnets
Electromagnet
Motor kits or apparatus to demonstrate Fleming’s left-hand rule
Plotting compasses, iron filings
Transformer or apparatus to demonstrate electromagnetic induction

15
Waves
Apparatus for Young’s slits and diffraction in light
Microphone and cathode-ray oscilloscope
Ray boxes, glass blocks (rectangular and semi-circular), pins
Ripple tank
Rope, ‘Slinky’ spring
Signal generator and loudspeaker

(Microwave apparatus and a laser are good extras.)

Modern Physics
Much of the apparatus for this work is expensive and access to some items may be restricted by local
regulations. Videos or computer simulations may prove adequate substitutes.
Millikan’s apparatus (A Level)
Photoelectric cell (A Level)
Radioactive sources, detectors and absorbers
Teltron tubes, EHT power supply and apparatus for deflection by electric and magnetic fields

This list does not include items that may be needed to assist in the teaching of the A Level Physics Options.

16
Chemistry
The following lists do not include items that are commonly regarded as standard equipment (such as
burners, tripods, glass tubing) but instead lists the specific equipment required for teaching at a particular
level. A complete list of chemicals is not given as this will depend on the experiments taught but a list of the
common bench reagents required is given.

IGCSE/O Level
Beaker, squat form with lip: 250 cm3
Boiling tubes, approximately 150 mm x 25 mm
Burette, 50 cm3
Clocks (or wall-clock) to measure to an accuracy of about 1second
Conical flasks within the range 150 cm3 to 250 cm3
Filter funnel
Measuring cylinder, 50 cm3 or 25 cm3
Pipette, 25 cm3
Pipette filler
Polystyrene, or other plastic beaker of approximate capacity 150 cm3
Stirring rod
Test tubes (some of which should be Pyrex or hard glass), approximately 125 mm x 16 mm
Thermometer, -10 ºC to 110 ºC at 1 ºC
Wash bottle

A Level (in addition to the list given for IGCSE/O Level)

Balance, single pan, direct reading, 0.01g or better
Beaker, squat form with lip, 100 cm3, 250 cm3
Dropping pipette
Evaporating basin, at least 200 cm3
Measuring cylinders, 25 cm3 and 50 cm3
Pipette, 10 cm3
Porcelain crucible, approximately 15 cm3, with lid
Thermometers, -10 °C to 100 °C at 1 °C and, -5 °C to 50 °C at 0.2 °C
Volumetric flask

Standard bench reagents

Aqueous ammonia (approximately 1.0 mol/dm3)
Aqueous barium nitrate or aqueous barium chloride (approximately 0.2 mol/dm3)
Aqueous lead(II) nitrate (approximately 0.2 mol/dm3)
Aqueous potassium dichromate(VI) (approximately 0.1 mol/dm3)
Aqueous potassium iodide (approximately 0.1mol/dm3)
Aqueous potassium manganate(VII) (approximately 0.02 mol/dm3)
Aqueous silver nitrate (approximately 0.05 mol/dm3)
Aqueous sodium hydroxide (approximately 1.0 mol/dm3)
Hydrochloric acid (approximately 1.0 mol/dm3)
Limewater (a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide)
Nitric acid (approximately 1.0 mol/dm3)
Sulphuric acid (approximately 0.5 mol/dm3)

Other material
Aluminium foil
Red and blue litmus paper or Universal Indicator paper

Note
For testing carbon dioxide, delivery tubes are not necessary. If these are unavailable, students can either
pour the gas carefully into a test tube containing limewater and shake or use a bulb pipette to sample the
gas and bubble it through some limewater in a test tube.

17
Biology
IGCSE/O Level
A means of heating - bunsen burners or similar
A means of measuring small volumes (e.g. syringes of various sizes)
A means of writing on glassware (e.g. water resistant markers)
Beakers
Benedict’s solution
Biuret reagent/potassium hydroxide and copper sulphate solution
Black paper/aluminium foil
Bungs to fit some test tubes/boiling tubes
Conical flasks and clamp stands (for specific experiments)
Cotton wool
Cutting implement, e.g. solid-edged razor blade/knife/scalpel
Equipment to make potometer
Ethanol (for fats test)
Filter funnels and filter paper
Forceps
Glass slides and coverslips
Glucose
Hand lenses (not less than x6, preferably x8)
Iodine solution
Measuring cylinders
Methylated spirit (extraction of chlorophyll)
Microscope and lamp
Mounted needles
Paper towelling or tissue
Petri dishes (plastic) or similar small containers
Potassium hydroxide
Safety spectacles
Scissors
Sodium chloride
Solid glass rods
Specimen tubes with corks
Starch
Sucrose
Teat pipettes
Test tubes and boiling tubes
Test tube holders or similar means of holding tubes
Test tube racks or similar in which to stand tubes
Thermometers
Visking tubes
White tile or other suitable surface on which to cut

Desirable
Copper sulphate (crystals)
Dilute hydrochloric acid
Distilled/deionised water
Eosin/red ink
Hydrogencarbonate indicator
Limewater
Litmus paper
Methylene blue
Mortars and pestles (S)
Sodium bicarbonate
Universal Indicator paper and chart
Vaseline/petroleum jelly (or similar)

A Level (in addition to the list given for IGCSE/O level)

General
Apparatus to measure depth and rate of breathing
Balance (to 0.1 g)
Bench lamp with flexible arm

18
 Capillary tubing
Cork borers
Eyepiece graticules and stage micrometers
Mortars and pestles
Microscope and lamp/in-built illumination with high and low power objective lenses (one each or one
between two students)
Pipe cleaners/other suitable aid to demonstrate mitosis and meiosis
Simple respirometer - can be ‘homemade’
Soda glass tubing
Stopclock/timer showing seconds
Tripod stands and gauze
Visking (dialysis) tubing
Water baths or equivalent

Stocks of
Apparatus/chemicals for water culture to show the effect of N.P.K. on growth
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
Benedict’s solution
Biuret reagent/potassium hydroxide and copper sulphate solution
Copper sulphate (crystals)
DCPIP (dichlorophenol - indophenol)
Dilute hydrochloric acid
Distilled/deionised water
Enzymes - catalase, amylase, trypsin
Eosin/red ink
Ethanol (for fats test)
Feulgen stain (Schiff’s reagent)
Glucose
Hydrogencarbonate indicator
Iodine in potassium iodide solution
Limewater
Litmus paper
Methylated spirit (extraction of chlorophyll)
Methylene blue
Potassium hydroxide
Sodium bicarbonate/sodium hydrogencarbonate
Sodium chloride
Stains for preparing slides to show mitosis - e.g. carmine acetic
Starch
Sucrose
Universal Indicator paper and chart
Vaseline/petroleum jelly (or similar)

Optional - non-competitive enzyme inhibitor (e.g. copper ions)

Apparatus for sampling animals

beating tray (‘homemade’)
pitfall trap/ jam jar; suitable cover to prevent water entry
plankton net and dip net (if aquatic environment being sampled)
pooter (‘homemade’)
sweeping net (muslin)
trays for hand sorting

Slides of
animal and plant cells
anther and ovule
arteries/ veins/ capillaries
blood smear
kidney
mitosis and meiosis
other plant and animal tissues (e.g. liver, ts leaf)
ovary and testis
platyhelminth and annelid
trachea and lungs

19
 Ts stem, ts root and ts leaf of a xerophyte (e.g. Erica or Psamma or local equivalent)
Ts spinal cord

Additional equipment for A Level Biology Options

Option 1
Thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

Slides of
Eye (including retina)
Liver
Pancreas
Striated muscle

Option 2
Appropriate cultures of micro-organisms (e.g. Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis)
Appropriate disinfectants
Cultures of yoghurt
Gram staining solutions (crystal violet and safranin)
Haemocytometers
Inoculating wires / bioloops
Materials for preparing immobilised enzymes (calcium chloride, sodium alginate)
Nutrient broth, nutrient agar
Petri dishes, culture bottles, autoclave
Tape for sealing dishes

Option 3
Slides of
Anther and ovule
Ovary and testis

Option 4
No special equipment is needed.

20
Appendix C Equipment suppliers

Griffin and George (Fisons)

Bishop Meadow Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 5RG
United Kingdom
www.griffinandgeorge.co.uk

Philip Harris
Findel Education Limited
Findel House
Excelsior Road
Ashby Park
Ashby de la Zouche
Leicestershire
LE65 1NG
United Kingdom
www.phscientific.co.uk

VWR International Limited

Merck House
Poole
Dorset
BH15 1TD
United Kingdom
www.vwr.co.uk

21
University of Cambridge International Examinations
1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1223 553554 Fax: +44 1223 553558
Email: international@cie.org.uk Website: www.cie.org.uk

© University of Cambridge International Examinations 2006

PLANSCI 06 01
Nothing in this document is intended to, or shall have, any legal effect. All arrangements
between CIE and the Centre will be governed by a formal written agreement.