This study focuses on science teaching in 30 European countries at primary and general lower secondary level. It provides a comparison of the regulations and official recommendations concerning initial teacher education: programme content and accreditation criteria, and the qualifications and experience of trainers in training establishments and in schools (for practical placement and final 'on-the-job' qualifying phase). The main learning activities and objectives of school curricula are examined, as well as the content of standardised evaluation of science pupils. The projects and debates relating to the development of this type of evaluation are reviewed. A summary of research results on learning science subjects and the practices and training of science teachers rounds off the study.