Science Practical Endorsement Courses
With renowned expertise, Greene’s offers science practical endorsement courses for A levels & GCSEs
Contents:
If your query has not been answered or if you would like to learn more, please contact us here.
Intensive A level Courses
Most examination boards, such as AQA and Edexcel, require students to complete a combination of assessed practicals, and written work.
At Greene’s, we ensure that our practicals are engaging and will help you to achieve your A level grades, preparing you for the Sciences at university, whilst exploring the processes that shape our world.
You will have the opportunity to gain a solid foundation in practical work, acquiring transferable skills useful in your further study and beyond. Success on these intensive courses requires pre-course preparation.
Our courses are suitable for anyone studying an A level science, in particular:
- External candidates studying at home through distance learning organisations;
- Retake candidates looking to improve their grades and understanding of science in practice;
- Home-schooled students.
COURSE BENEFITS
With a Greene’s A level science practical course, you can:
- Meet the requirements of the A level science practical endorsement;
- Better understand your science subjects through practice;
- Improve your grades;
- Develop your laboratory skills for university and beyond.
OCR Case Study
We are recognised by the OCR examination board as a science practical case study. Read more about our cherished history with OCR below.
science practical case study
Practical Course feedback 2024-2025
100% reported that the small group working experience was supportive and productive.
100% of students felt that the course enabled them to develop their abilities as an independent
learner.
91% would recommend Greene’s to another student.
100% of students felt that they were provided with sufficient guidance across assessment, theory, and practical activity.
90% of students felt they learnt to perform independent laboratory work safely and competently.
73% felt they could also perform it confidently.
Fees & Registration Deadlines
The year 1 and year 2 courses can be taken consecutively for those wishing to complete the practical endorsement in one year.
| Summary description | Start date | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-day Foundation Practical intensive course | The Foundation Practical course offers students the opportunity to develop essential practical skills that they will require to pass the endorsement without the pressure of assessment. Skills achieved will, however, be transferrable to the Endorsement, if you take it at Greene's, meaning you may already have achieved some assessment points. | Physics: October half-term 2024. Chemistry: February half-term 2025. Biology: February half-term 2025. | £780 (per subject) |
| Intensive A level practical endorsement course | Pre-course preparation and assessment followed by twelve laboratory sessions over six consecutive days. Fee is per subject. | Physics: 17th to 22nd February 2025 inclusive. Biology: 7th to 12th April 2025 inclusive Chemistry I: 14th to 19th April 2025 inclusive Chemistry II: 21st to 23rd & 25th to 27rd April 2025 inclusive | £1,975 (per subject) |
| Intensive CAIE Physics course | An individualised, day-long preparatory course for CAIE Physics students in our lab in Oxford during Hilary term, before Trinity exams start. Fee is per subject. | Contact us to arrange your individual lab practice. | £835 (per subject) |
To join the 2025 intensive A level practical endorsement Spring courses is please contact the Exams Office.
The course pricing (JCQ A level Practical Endorsement Course) is inclusive of examination fees per chosen subject i.e. if you choose to take the Physics Science Practicals with us, you will not need to pay again for the associated non-practical A level papers.
After this date, late entry may be possible at the discretion of Greene’s. Additional late entry fees may apply and your chances of successfully completing the endorsement may be affected by the limited preparation time. Course fees do not include examination entry fees. We hope our FAQ section will answer most of your questions about A level science practicals at Greene’s; for any other questions please contact examsofficer@greenes.org.uk.
The above fees currently do not include VAT. All listed fees are subject to additional VAT costs.
All about A level Science Practicals
FAQs
For JCQ examination boards in England (AQA, Edexcel and OCR) the assessment of practical skills in Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics is assessed in two ways:
- In written examination papers, which include questions about the theory and application of practical skills. These are designed to contribute at least 15% of the total marks for each of these subjects.
- Passing the A level Practical endorsement: this involves completing 12 practical activities per science, demonstrating competence in various skills, and familiarising yourself wth the techniques and equipment. The Practical Endorsement is required by some university courses.
Greene’s tutors monitor you in the laboratory and check your books, discuss your understanding with you, and check that you can repeat skills that are new to you and have been taught during the Endorsement. To pass, you must perform 12 laboratory sessions, tick off a list of apparatus and techniques performed, e.g. setting up electrochemical cells, and demonstrate competencies across the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPACs).
The Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPACs) ask you to:
- Follow written procedures independently and with accuracy;
- Apply investigative approaches and methods when using laboratory instruments and equipment;
- Safely use a range of practical equipment and materials;
- Accurately make and record observations; and
- Research, references and reports.
These differ across the sciences, but, for example, include:
- Use of appropriate apparatus to record a range of quantitative measurements (to include mass, time, volume, temperature, length and pH).
- Use of appropriate instrumentation to record quantitative measurements, such as a colorimeter or potometer.
- Use of laboratory glassware apparatus for a variety of experimental techniques to include serial dilutions.
- Use of ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger to collect data, or use software to process data.
There are about 12 practical apparatuses or techniques to complete.
Yes! Your tutor will offer you guidance, teaching, and identify skills you need to demonstrate or activities you must perform to meet the Endorsement criteria. However, you can still fail to obtain the pass if, for example, you miss 1 of the 12 required practicals, or refuse to handle a living animal in Biology.
In the examination, there are questions based on practical skills and knowledge, contributing a minimum of 15% of your marks. Practical skills allow you to contextualise what is sometimes extremely abstract content, on a scale of molecules and atoms that are invisible to the eye. It directly relates to examined content, and can empower students to think in innovative, flexible ways when solving problems.
Many universities require the Practical Endorsement as part of their admissions criteria for a wide range of courses.
‘We will therefore require applicants who are offering one or more of these reformed A level science subjects in England to pass the practical skills assessment in addition to achieving the required grade(s) in the written examination(s).’ University of Reading
‘Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and the University of Sheffield will expect students to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken.’ University of Sheffield.
‘The University of Southampton believes that practical skills in the sciences are integral to a candidate’s understanding and appreciation of these subjects and it will require all applicants offering one or more of these subjects at A level to pass the practical skills assessment in addition to achieving the required grade(s) in the written examination(s).’ University of Southampton
‘If a practical component forms part of any of the A-levels taken, we expect candidates to have taken it and passed.’ University of Oxford
- Undertaking practical work at A level gives you important transferable skills that will help with your degree study and which include:
- Observation;
- Analysing results;
- Evaluating your own work and that of others;
- Testing out theories and ideas which you have developed;
- Developing problem solving strategies;
- Communicating ideas and results;
- Developing confidence to learn independently and to question information;
- Understanding the correct use of laboratory equipment for scientific investigation
Intensive GCSE Courses
The GCSE JCQ exam boards (OCR, AQA and Edexcel) describe “required practicals” in their course structure. Students are expected to have performed these experiments or watched them demonstrated and be familiar with one of a few possible versions of the experiments. However, there is no check in place to ensure the students have done any experiments except for paper-based examination assessment.
This bespoke, hands-on course, which caters for different learning styles and is taught by experienced Greene’s tutors, enables students to understand the science practicals that they will be examined on, preparing them for A level or further study.
COURSE BENEFITS
With a Greene’s GCSE science practical course, you will:
- Develop key practical skills and understanding;
- Receive and use bespoke revision resources for GCSE examinations;
- Learn how to effectively approach written examination questions on science practicals.
Fees and Registration Deadlines
| Summary description | Start date | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive A level practical preparation course (GCSE level) | Pre-course preparation and assessment followed by eight laboratory sessions over two days (Physics) or five half-days (Biology and Chemistry), held consecutively. Fee is per subject. | Contact the Exams Office at examsofficer@greenes.org.uk | £1,500 (per subject) |
To join the 2025 intensive A level practical endorsement Spring courses is please contact the Exams Office.
The course pricing (JCQ GCSE Practical Endorsement Course) is inclusive of examination fees per chosen subject i.e. if you choose to take the Physics Science Practicals with us, you will not need to pay again for the associated non-practical A level papers.
After this date, late entry may be possible at the discretion of Greene’s. Additional late entry fees may apply and your chances of successfully completing the endorsement may be affected by the limited preparation time. Course fees do not include examination entry fees. We hope our FAQ section will answer most of your questions about science practicals at Greene’s; for any other questions please contact examsofficer@greenes.org.uk.
The above fees currently do not include VAT. All listed fees are subject to additional VAT costs.
