PLT Technicians Conference 2026
In partnership with Philip Harris
Date: Friday 12th June 2026, 9.00am - 3.30pm
Venue: Regional Science Centre, Oldham Sixth Form College
Cost: £100 per delegate (including lunch)
The Pinnacle Learning Trust is delighted to offer a full day of practical ideas, activities and workshop sessions for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Empowering you to feel prepared, confident and in control of practical science. So student practical skills and knowledge thrive.
This event is designed specifically for secondary school science technicians supporting KS3-KS4 of all levels of experience. Bringing together curriculum mapped practicals, essential technician skills and shared expertise.
On the day you can expect:
- Practical sessions mapped directly to KS3 and KS4 curriculum requirements
- Clear, usable approaches to common practical challenges
- Tips to improve consistency, safety and efficiency in the lab
- Opportunities to share ideas with other technicians across the North West
- Technician to technician insight you can take straight back to school
For further information, please contact David Carter: dcr@osfc.ac.uk.
Workshops:
Power Up Your Oscilloscope Skills
Join us for an engaging and hands-on workshop where you'll discover the power of the oscilloscope. This session is perfect for anyone looking to gain confidence using oscilloscopes; whether you're a complete beginner, revisiting practical skills, or seeking a refresher on waveform analysis.
Dissections
You will use a range of Blades Biological resources and specimens to try your hand at dissection.
Red Cabbage Rainbows
It's time for hands on exploration of the KS3 red cabbage pH indicator practicals. First up, make your own red cabbage indicator using just a few natural ingredients. Create a rainbow of colours adding the indicator to test tubes containing acid and alkali solutions. Then it's time to challenge your titration skills to work out an unknown concentration. The perfect practical to engage and inspire budding scientists.
Gamify Your Physics Labs!
In this hands-on, interactive session, learn how to put the PHUN into PHYSICS with a series of curriculum relevant activities, guaranteed to engage and amuse. From testing your reaction time, to shows of strength, bring your competitive side along as there will be a prize to win!
LEGO
A hands-on introduction to the LEGO Education Computer Science and Al Kit, giving attendees the chance to explore its programmable components, sensors and coding tools, and to discuss the broad ways it can support computing and AI learning.
Microscope Maintenance
A practical workshop to help you develop the skills and knowledge to confidently service and repair microscopes.
Chemical Storage with the LabExpert Chemicals Inventory
This session will cover chemical regulations, chemical stores, store designs and requirements, how to store chemicals safely plus an introduction to the LabExpert Chemicals Inventory and why you need a chemicals inventory.
Practical Electricity: Circuits and Resistance Investigations
A technician-focused session covering electricity and electromagnetism through hands-on work with series and parallel circuits and resistance investigations, highlighting equipment setup, measurements, and common experimental issues.
The day at a glance:
Bursaries available: To support access, Philip Harris has funded 5 bursary places are for
this event. Apply by 28 March 2026. Places are limited. Early booking recommended.
