The general aims of the course are to:  

• encourage more school learners to participate in vocationally-related learning  

• introduce learners to working in a laboratory  

• encourage learners to develop a good work ethic, including time management, and a positive attitude  

• provide opportunities to develop a range of Core Skills through practical experience in a vocational environment  

• encourage learners to take charge of their own learning and development  

• provide a range of teaching, learning and assessment styles to motivate learners to achieve their full potential  

• help learners to progress to further or higher education and training  

• help build learners’ confidence 

The specific aims of the course are to:  

• encourage learners to consider a career in industries and services using laboratory science  

• develop an awareness of the types and range of career options within industries and services  

• develop the basic practical laboratory skills of measuring, weighing and preparing compounds and solutions for laboratory use  

• develop the skills of communicating laboratory information  

• develop learners’ understanding of, and how to implement, the health and safety requirements for a safe working environment develop problem solving and numeracy skills in the context of a laboratory 

• provide opportunities for learners to develop skills and attitudes that will improve their employment potential within a sector  

• develop learners’ awareness of their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the requirements of a sector, and to reflect on how this affects their employability potential 

To achieve the award of the National 5 Laboratory Science Skills for Work Course, learners must achieve all the required units. Skills for Work courses are not graded. They will be assessed on a pass/fail basis within centres 

Careers using Laboratory Science 

Learners must produce written and/or oral evidence of their knowledge of different industries and services, job roles, career options and the skills, qualifications and experience needed for a job role in the field of laboratory science. Learners gather evidence, in open-book conditions at appropriate points throughout the unit, in a folio. Learners must produce a CV, using a template, for a job role with a laboratory science setting. Learners must also produce three reviews of their employability skills. They must complete these reviews at appropriate points throughout the course. They must gather feedback from their teacher or lecturer on two occasions and another person on one occasion. The other person could be another learner or a placement supervisor 

Working in a Laboratory 

Learners must produce evidence for the three outcomes in open-book conditions throughout the unit. Performance evidence must show that learners are able to prepare a chemical solution and deal with a simulated chemical spill. Learners must also carry out practical activities to Version 3.1 12 measure mass and volume. You must record evidence of learner performance using assessor observation checklists. Written evidence is required to demonstrate that learners can carry out a risk assessment in a scientific laboratory, record measurements taken, and perform a range of calculations on these measurements. 

Practical Skills 

Learners must produce performance evidence during a range of practical activities. Working safely with microorganisms in a laboratory setting requires learners to pour agar plates using aseptic techniques, subculture microorganisms, and prepare wet and dry mounts. Learners must measure and detect radioactivity using the appropriate equipment. During two separate practical activities, learners must use two types of equipment appropriately. Each instrument must cover a different scientific application. Using appropriate equipment, learners must safely perform chemical analysis including a titration, chromatography and distillation. You must use assessor observation checklists to record evidence of performance. Learners must produce written evidence under supervised, closed-book conditions to demonstrate that they can explain the safety requirements of working with radioactive materials. They must also produce written evidence of their ability to accurately record measurements 

Practical Investigation 

Learners must produce written evidence to demonstrate that they can plan a practical investigation, record results and observations in an appropriate format using the correct SI units, state valid conclusions, and evaluate the results and observations from the investigation. Learners should use templates for the plan and report to help them produce their evidence in supervised conditions. Performance evidence supported by a written report. Learners must carry out the practical task in controlled supervised conditions. Performance evidence is gathered through a written report. Learners must identify strengths and areas for improvement in terms of planning and implementing the investigation. They must take account of feedback from others as part of this review and identify action points in the report. 

There is no exam.

The course provides a broad experiential introduction to laboratory science. 

Learners explore a variety of local, national and global industries and services and the career opportunities in science laboratories. 

Learners develop the basic practical laboratory skills: measuring, weighing and preparing compounds and solutions, and understanding and implementing the health and safety requirements for a safe working environment. They also develop specific practical skills related to microbiology, radioactivity, chemical handling and analysis, and laboratory equipment. 

Learners produce a plan to carry out a practical investigation to investigate an aim related to a scientific topic. This involves reporting results, conclusions and evaluations of the investigation. The course emphasises the employability skills and attitudes valued by employers, which help to prepare learners for the workplace. Learners review employability skills and seek feedback from their peers and teaching staff as appropriate. They evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses, personal skills, qualifications and experience against career options. 

The employability skills assessed in this course are:  

• ability to follow instructions  awareness of health and safety in a laboratory  

• appropriate use of resources  

• positive attitude to learning  

• flexible approach to problem solving  confidence to set goals, reflect and learn from experience  

• time-management skills  

• communication skills  

• presentation skills  

• numeracy skills  

• basic practical skills of weighing, measuring, preparing solutions  

• working co-operatively with others  

• confidence to seek feedback  review and self-evaluation skills  

• working independently