Posted By LTN
Following guidance relating to MSLA children on work experience I have taken the precautionary approach for example not allowing soldering work due to it being a possible source of exposure to extreme heat and maybe toxic fumes. As well as the fact that I don't have any information from the schools as to have the student has experience with and what tools they have used.

However, I am still unsure, how do schools get around the fact that they teach children of this age and younger to use bunsen burners, cook, and possibly even solder. Do schools have different guidance for education purposes?

Posted By LTN
Thanks for the link Alan, yes MSLA is Minimum School Leaving Age.

As for the question about higher levels of risk in a workplace compared to schools, we are a university that teaches science and technology so the risks aren't much higher than at schools/colleges but our students would be a few years older than MSLA students. However for the purposes of work experience then we are employers and therefore I follow HSE guidance on young people in the workplace. We also have open days with students under 18 taking part in such activities but I wouldn't term this as 'work' but as 'education'. Am I making correct assumptions here?

I'll try to contact the organisation linked for more answers. Thanks again.