Education Quandary: My son has done no practical science at secondary school, and is now totally turned off

Hilary's advice

How wicked that a boy who loved science at primary school has had his interest so destroyed that he now won't contemplate taking A-level sciences. Not only is it a crime to snuff out children's curiosity and enthusiasm like this, but it also means that a whole swath of fascinating careers will be closed to him – probably for ever.

You ask if his experience is normal. Yes, it is. According to a recent survey run by the national network of Science Learning Centres, more than nine out of 10 science teachers say they face obstacles trying to organise practical science sessions. The biggest one is the pressure to get through the national curriculum. Then there are the demands of testing and marking, issues of bad behaviour and a lack of suitable equipment. There's also the fact that many science teachers are not specialists in their field. If physics is not your first subject, you aren't going to feel confident about running physics experiments. Interestingly, though, health and safety rules don't seem to be an issue.

Secondary school pupils used routinely to grow mould, create waves and dissect small animals as part of their science learning. They might have burned off their eyebrows over a Bunsen burner and complained noisily about the pong of formaldehyde, but at least they were learning science as an explorative, hands-on subject.

Various groups and projects are trying to reintroduce exciting science to schools by training science teachers in practical methods, pooling local resources, and setting up specialist centres such as the handful of Physics Factories around the country, and the Reach Out Lab recently established by Imperial College London. However, it is not nearly enough to turn the tide on science, and there appears to be a distressing lack of urgency in addressing these problems.

How can you rekindle your son's interest? I fear it will be hard, but one way might be to try arranging some work experience visits to hospitals, engineering plants and research laboratories, so he can see what science looks like outside the dreary confines of school.

Readers' advice

Our daughter wanted to be a doctor from when she was six, but had a bad wobble at GCSE when she started saying she hated science and wanted to do art. A lot was about the teaching. We were sure she would regret giving up her dream later, so I'm afraid we resorted to bribery – cash bonuses for good science exams results and the money for a holiday if she took sciences in the sixth form. She is now happily studying medicine at Newcastle.

Pamela Cartwright, Bristol

Take him to the Festival of Science + Arts at the Southbank Centre, in London, from 25 June to 4 July, organised by the Royal Society as part of its 350th birthday celebrations. Even if the main events are booked up, there will be street happenings and live science demonstrations to wake up his scientific imagination.

Mike Mally, London SE1

The problem is that science in schools is abysmally taught by people who don't know their subjects and have no communication skills. We are also a country that does not respect scientists and engineers, and does not pay them in line with the years they have to study. And becoming a scientist takes a lot of discipline and hard work, more than in other areas. Maybe that is something that puts young people off.

Alex Huskins, Bucks

Next week's quandary

Our son was planning to get his A-levels and then apply to university, but he now seems to have lost all interest in going. How much pressure should we put on him to apply this year? If he doesn't, he will lose two years and, with the downturn about to hit higher education, we are worried.

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