This article looks at the problems of revision of laboratory courses. While revision of the syllabus of experiments is expensive, it is necessary to keep it up to date. The nature, causes, and rates of change in practical courses are discussed. (BB)

Presents the view that laboratory work has been overemphasized. Need to critically examine effects on students of this practice. Some objections to current laboratory hours include irrelevance to student's future careers, recipe-type experiments, and conflicts with main academic objectives. (PS)

Feeling that projects in chemistry could be used effectively to enhance appreciation of chemistry, a project-based course for the first-year sixth formers was developed in 1973 and because of its success another was organized. Projects from both courses are described. (EB)