Lab Coats, Aprons and Safety Glasses: What Your School's Booklist Actually Needs

Science booklists can read like a catalogue of mystery items. Here's what each one actually does — and which ones you can stop worrying about.

The Lab Coat

The big one — required from Year 7 science in most Australian schools. It protects the uniform underneath from splashes, marks and heat, and it's the one item your child will use weekly for six years. (We've written a full guide on why students need lab coats — and how to pick the right size.)

The booklist will usually specify colour (white or navy) and sometimes a style. If it just says "lab coat," check your school's page — if your school is booklisted with us, the exact coat is already chosen and listed.

Safety Spectacles (Safety Glasses)

Required for practical classes from about Year 7 onwards in most schools. They protect the eyes during experiments — mandatory whenever chemicals, glassware or heat are in play.

Buying advice: get the school-specified type. Many schools specify wrap-around styles that fit over prescription glasses (most brands do). At $5 a pair they're inexpensive but easy to lose — write your child's name on the case, not just the glasses. We stock two styles of safety spectacles alongside lab coats in the Shop.

The Apron (If It's Listed)

Some schools ask for a science apron instead of, or alongside, a lab coat — usually for junior classes or food-tech subjects. If the booklist says apron only, you don't need a lab coat as well; if it says both, check with the school (it's sometimes a copy-paste error in the booklist).

Items You DON'T Need for Science

• A white coat "with specific lab certification" — school science uses standard lab coats; certification language is for industrial chemistry workplaces
• Art smocks for senior years — the lab coat covers it
• Anything listed as "optional" — genuinely optional; wait and see if it's ever actually used

The Two-Minute Booklist Check

1. Find the science section of the booklist
2. Check the exact wording: colour? style? apron and coat, or just one?
3. Check your school's page on our Booklisted Schools list
4. Order coat and safety spectacles together in one delivery from the Shop

Common Questions

Can one coat do for both science and food tech?

Usually yes — check with the school. A plain lab coat works for both subjects.

Do we buy safety spectacles every year?

No — one pair lasts for years if named and kept in the school bag. Replace when scratched or lost.

Where do we order the lot?

Right here — Shop for coats (XXS to 3XL, white or navy) and safety spectacles, Sizing Chart for measurements. Questions? Contact us.