Practical Science for 8-12
✅ Gain experience handling practical science equipment under expert guidance
✅ Learn experimental design and conducting practicals whilst gaining knowledge of core science topics
✅ Student - led learning in a fun, small-group environment.
✅ Accessible, kind and supportive
✅ Evidence learning with 'skills stamps' and AQA accredited Unit Award Scheme Certification
✅ Learn experimental design and conducting practicals whilst gaining knowledge of core science topics
✅ Student - led learning in a fun, small-group environment.
✅ Accessible, kind and supportive
✅ Evidence learning with 'skills stamps' and AQA accredited Unit Award Scheme Certification
Practical Science for 8-12s sessions offer opportunities to gain experience handling practical science equipment while conducting practicals in a fun, small-group environment. Students will develop their understanding of good experimental procedures and further their understanding of the theory behind a range of science topics, laying the foundation for the practical science skills and knowledge they are likely to need as they take their studies further. The emphasis is on learning by doing, and student-led explorations, with opportunities to gain stamps on their skills sheet to evidence their new skills and knowledge, if they want to.
If your think your child is ready for further challenge, you may wish to consider the 11-16s Practical Science sessions.
AQA accredited, certificated learning opportunities.
Sparking STEM is proud to be an AQA accredited Unit Award Scheme Centre.
This means that from January 2026, it will be possible for students who are enrolled in the scheme will have at least two opportunities to gain Unit Award Certificates in Practical Science sessions. You can find out more about the scheme and enrolment here.
If your think your child is ready for further challenge, you may wish to consider the 11-16s Practical Science sessions.
AQA accredited, certificated learning opportunities.
Sparking STEM is proud to be an AQA accredited Unit Award Scheme Centre.
This means that from January 2026, it will be possible for students who are enrolled in the scheme will have at least two opportunities to gain Unit Award Certificates in Practical Science sessions. You can find out more about the scheme and enrolment here.
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✅ Qualified Teacher Status (QTS: PGCE Science)
✅ Postgraduate level Science: MSc. ✅ Certified in "Autism Awareness in Education" ✅ Certified in "PDA for Educators" (PDA Society) ✅ Certified in "ADHD Awareness" (TES) ✅ Certified in "Working with children with disabilities and learning difficulties" ✅ Safeguarding certified (Level 3 DSL) ✅ Enhanced DBS ✅ Paediatric first aid qualification (OFQAL certified Level 3) ✅ Over fifteen years' experience teaching at exam level ✅ Experienced at teaching IGCSE (Edexcel and Cambridge), AQA & Edexcel. ✅ Over eight years' experience working closely with the home-educating community. ✅ Diverse experience teaching children with Special Educational Needs ✅ Nine years of experience working in biological research ✅ Comprehensive public liability insurance |
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Booking
2026 Programme:
Booking for 2026 sessions will open in 17th July 2025.
Join the Practical Science mailing list to hear when booking opens.
Microscopes Wednesday 14th January 2026 (10-12am)
Investigating light Wednesday 21st January 2026 (10-12am)
Measuring diffusion Wednesday 28th January 2026 (10-12am)
Using chemical indicators Wednesday 4th February 2026 (10-12am)
Photosynthesis and experimental design Wednesday 11th February 2026 (10-12am)
Please select the options below to see details and and add to your cart. Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt and then a separate booking confirmation email with a registration form link.
Not receive your confirmation email? Please check your spam folder and allow one business day before contacting us
If you would like to hear about booking opportunities by email, please complete this form
Booking for 2026 sessions will open in 17th July 2025.
Join the Practical Science mailing list to hear when booking opens.
- Five stand-alone sessions.
- Each session can be booked individually, so you can just pick and choose the topics that suit you.
- The sessions will now be of 2 hour duration to allow a more in depth exploration and analysis of results.
Microscopes Wednesday 14th January 2026 (10-12am)
Investigating light Wednesday 21st January 2026 (10-12am)
Measuring diffusion Wednesday 28th January 2026 (10-12am)
Using chemical indicators Wednesday 4th February 2026 (10-12am)
Photosynthesis and experimental design Wednesday 11th February 2026 (10-12am)
Please select the options below to see details and and add to your cart. Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt and then a separate booking confirmation email with a registration form link.
Not receive your confirmation email? Please check your spam folder and allow one business day before contacting us
If you would like to hear about booking opportunities by email, please complete this form
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Practical Science for 8-12s: Microscopes
£27.95
Sold out Booking opens 17th July 2025 (not sold out, just not yet available) Wednesday 14th January 2026 10-12am Location: Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield. Details Each student has their own optical microscope for the duration of the session. They'll learn to prepare samples and to use their microscope to study a range of samples effectively. They'll have opportunities to learn microscopy drawing skills and to build their knowledge of microscopic structures such as cells, in a fun, small group environment. Registration Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt of your payment by email. You will receive a further email from Sparking STEM within 24 hours with confirmation of your booking and a link to complete a registration for your student(s). Registration will provide you with the opportunity to notify Sparking STEM of any particular needs your child may have. Please check your junk / spam folder. If you have not heard received confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and contact Sparking STEM. Policies Please read the following policies carefully registrations cannot be processed without agreement to these policies: By making this booking you are agreeing to the cancellation policy. |
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Practical Science for 8-12s: Investigating light
£27.95
Sold out Booking opens 17th July 2025 (not sold out, just not yet available) Wednesday 21st January 2026 10-12am Location: Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield. Details Using light ray boxes, prisms, fibre optics and a range of student-led activities, we explore reflection, refraction, dispersion, filtering and the visible light spectrum. Registration Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt of your payment by email. You will receive a further email from Sparking STEM within 24 hours with confirmation of your booking and a link to complete a registration for your student(s). Registration will provide you with the opportunity to notify Sparking STEM of any particular needs your child may have. Please check your junk / spam folder. If you have not heard received confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and contact Sparking STEM. Policies Please read the following policies carefully registrations cannot be processed without agreement to these policies: By making this booking you are agreeing to the cancellation policy. |
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Practical Science for 8-12s: Measuring diffusion
£27.95
Sold out Booking opens 17th July 2025 (not sold out, just not yet available) Wednesday 28th January 2026 10-12am Location: Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield. Details Measuring accurately is a crucial skill for any science practical whether you're using a measuring cylinder, syringe, weighing balance or thermometer. In this practical, students will learn to use a range of measuring equipment as they investigate and learn about diffusion. Registration Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt of your payment by email. You will receive a further email from Sparking STEM within 24 hours with confirmation of your booking and a link to complete a registration for your student(s). Registration will provide you with the opportunity to notify Sparking STEM of any particular needs your child may have. Please check your junk / spam folder. If you have not heard received confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and contact Sparking STEM. Policies Please read the following policies carefully registrations cannot be processed without agreement to these policies: By making this booking you are agreeing to the cancellation policy. |
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Practical Science for 8-12s: Using chemical indicators
£27.95
Sold out Booking opens 17th July 2025 (not sold out, just not yet available) Wednesday 4th February 2026 10-12am Location: Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield. Details Students are introduced to a range of colourful chemical indicators commonly used in biological and chemical investigations, such as iodine, limewater, phenolphthalein and Universal indicator solution, laying a foundation for the practicals they're likely to need in later studies. Through a range of challenges, demonstrations and student-led explorations, they'll discover the benefits and limitations of using indicators, and learn which reagents can be used for which purpose. Registration Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt of your payment by email. You will receive a further email from Sparking STEM within 24 hours with confirmation of your booking and a link to complete a registration for your student(s). Registration will provide you with the opportunity to notify Sparking STEM of any particular needs your child may have. Please check your junk / spam folder. If you have not heard received confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and contact Sparking STEM. Policies Please read the following policies carefully registrations cannot be processed without agreement to these policies: By making this booking you are agreeing to the cancellation policy. |
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Practical Science for 8-12s: Photosynthesis and experimental design
£27.95
Sold out Booking opens 17th July 2025 (not sold out, just not yet available) Wednesday 11th February 2026 10-12am Location: Wesley Hall, Crookes, Sheffield. Details Good experimental design skills are crucial to get valid results from experiments. Students are guided to understand what variables are and the importance of controlling them in experiments. They'll design and carry out experiments to investigate the rate of photosynthesis in algal balls at different light intensities and will have opportunities to learn about photosynthesis as they extract chlorophyll from leaves and see oxygen being produced by plants. Registration Upon booking you will receive an automated receipt of your payment by email. You will receive a further email from Sparking STEM within 24 hours with confirmation of your booking and a link to complete a registration for your student(s). Registration will provide you with the opportunity to notify Sparking STEM of any particular needs your child may have. Please check your junk / spam folder. If you have not heard received confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and contact Sparking STEM. Policies Please read the following policies carefully registrations cannot be processed without agreement to these policies: By making this booking you are agreeing to the cancellation policy. |
