CLEAPSS is an advisory service in the United Kingdom providing support in

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

and

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

for a consortium of

local authorities Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

and their schools including establishments for pupils with special needs.

Independent school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

s, post-16 colleges, teacher training establishments, curriculum developers and others can apply for associate membership. CLEAPSS offers help from nursery education through to A-level studies or equivalent. CLEAPSS first started in 1963 as CLEAPSE (Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Equipment). In 1988 the name was changed to CLEAPSS (Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Services) to reflect a change of emphasis from equipment to a range of services. Since then,

Local Education Authorities Local education authorities (LEAs) were defined in England and Wales as the local councils responsible for education within their jurisdictions. The term was introduced by the Education Act 1902, which transferred education powers from school bo ...

became Local Authorities (LAs) and CLEAPSS' services expanded to include D&T, so CLEAPSS was registered as a

Trade Mark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a form of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination that identifies a product or service from a particular source and distinguishes it from oth ...

. CLEAPSS is now simply a name and not an acronym.

People served

CLEAPSS serves: * teachers (including head teachers), * technicians, * science advisers/inspectors/consultants, * teacher trainers, * health and safety advisers, * architects (working for subscribers), * other local authority officers, * school governors.

Areas covered

CLEAPSS covers: *

health and safety Occupational safety and health (OSH) or occupational health and safety (OHS) is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work (i.e., while performing duties required by one's occupation). OSH is re ...

including model

risk assessment Risk assessment is a process for identifying hazards, potential (future) events which may negatively impact on individuals, assets, and/or the environment because of those hazards, their likelihood and consequences, and actions which can mitigate ...

s, * chemicals, living organisms, equipment, * sources of resources, * laboratory design, facilities and fittings, * technicians and their jobs, * D&T facilities and fittings. CLEAPSS provides support for a consortium of local authorities. It is controlled by its members, which currently include all LAs throughout the British Isles (not Scotland) (100% of those eligible).

Associate members

CLEAPSS has around 2,000 associate members, i.e.: * foundation and voluntary-aided schools (where not a member via a local authority), * independent schools, * incorporated colleges, * teacher-training establishments and science learning centres, * overseas institutions, * field centres, museums, etc, * curriculum developers.

Services provided

CLEAPSS provides: * termly newsletters for primary and secondary schools, * a wide range of free publications, * model risk assessments, * special risk assessments, * low-cost training courses for technicians, teachers and local authority officers, * a telephone helpline which takes nearly 7,000 calls per year, * a monitoring service, e.g. for mercury spills, * evaluations of equipment, * advice on repairs, * a H&S / Review service for publishers, exam. boards and other organisations producing teaching resources.

References

External links