Laura Watson – Biology/Science Teacher

St Margaret’s Academy Science Department, this year, introduced a new course available for S5/6 pupils called Skills for Work: Laboratory Science. This is set at Intermediate 2 level and has been a huge success since introduced in June.

Skills for Work: Laboratory Science is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills which are required for employment in laboratory science

Throughout the course the students explore a variety and range of industries and services, and the career opportunities in science laboratories, in a local, national, and global setting. At this point in the course the students attended a work based placement at one of the local scientific companies which helped support the material they have been learning in the class and provided them with the opportunity to speak to people who work in a laboratory setting.

Laboratory Science also gives students the opportunity to develop the basic practical skills for working in a laboratory — measuring, weighing, and preparing compounds and solutions — and to understand and implement the health and safety requirements for a safe working environment. The specific practical skills related to microbiology, radioactivity, chemical handling, and laboratory instrumentation are developed. The Core Skills of Working with Others and Problem Solving are developed when students produce a plan to undertake a practical investigation to test scientific hypotheses related to a scientific topic. This also involves reporting the results and conclusions, and evaluation of the investigation.

All of the pupils who have chosen to study this course have thoroughly enjoyed their experience so far and their scientific skills have significantly improved as a result.