Science

SCIENCE REPORT

WORDS BY Mr Mike Mallalieu, Head of Science

OVERVIEW/HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

This year has presented us with another unique experience, bringing with it both challenges and rewards! The Prep School Science Dept has reviewed and adopted new practices and the boys have continued to respond well to new structures and policies. Although teaching was affected by the measures put in place around COVID-19 to a degree, generally boys and staff were, impressively, able to carry out practical work to complement other teaching strategies.

The majority of the Spring Term was spent with online lessons. Science staff used a variety of approaches with staff teaching at home and at school. Some even used the laboratories and equipment to demonstrate experiments to promote engagement and pique interest.

At home the boys were encouraged to do some practical work e.g. investigating production of cupcakes and effect of altering an ingredient.

When we returned to school for the final 3 weeks of the Spring Term, many of the lessons featured practical work to catch up on lost opportunities.

INNOVATIONS

In a year of blended learning, lots of innovations have been implemented into the Science Department’s teaching and learning portfolio. Several quiz-based learning packages to include brainPop and Educake have been completed that should make pre-assessments periods diverse and more enjoyable.

An exciting collaboration opportunity was co-ordinated by Mr Mallalieu and Mr Beale where the Prep School boys were able to attend some online lectures given by Upper School 6th Formers. These entertaining and informative talks included one on ‘Brood Parasites: a species arms race’ given by Hugh Halsey and ‘Reef-keeping, including the anatomy of coral, water chemistry, relationships between organisms, and a broader look at the reef keeping hobby itself’ given by James Deardon.

The Science department introduced boys to a wide range of STEM materials which pupils could access outside of the classroom. For example, www.zooniverse.org/projects is a website that encourages boys to engage in scientific people-powered research.

And most notably, new microscope cameras have been introduced to the classrooms. This has provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to view microscopic organisms on slides and from pond water on the “big screen”. This has helped them to see what they should be looking at and how to properly focus etc.

COMPETITIONS

Via the Weekly Bulletin, boys were given the opportunity to enter a competition run by Cambridge Science Centre encouraging entrants to consider how they would make a difference to their future community.

NOTABLE SUCCESSES

The Animal Care Club was able to continue successfully, albeit with different arrangements and it has remained a popular club. The Bubble system has enabled boys to continue to attend throughout the majority of year groups, with over 80 boys attending regularly to care for;

Reptiles including a Royal Python, 2 x Corn snakes, Crested and Leopard Gecko, 2 x Bearded Dragons.

Our fabulous Guinea pigs and gerbils x 18 and lastly a range of Marine and fresh water

Science

fish and corals.

During the ‘Open Day’ visits, families commented favourably on the Y8 boys’ enthusiasm as keen and knowledgeable animal club guides.

The Gerbil breeding program continues successfully, with one family raising multiple families. It was a wonderful experience to carefully handle a day-old creature for all the classes.

Our school pond has had its uplift and the pond liner has been replaced. As requested, a bog area has been included and following on from some planting and tidying, we were successful in commencing summer pond dipping science events for several different classes. The interest and fauna will expand as the pond re-establishes. Excitingly, Forest school lunchtime club for year 5 has 20-25 weekly attendees to the pond area.

A portable “swan-necked” visualiser has been introduced to the department. This has been used throughout the team to deliver both remote and an improved classroom experience.

NEWS & PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR

We will be losing two senior science team members, Matt Allen and Jo Christian at the end of this academic year.

Jo started in Sept 2008 and has made a huge contribution to the PS Science Dept over the last 13 years.

Matt has been here a little less time, 9 years, but has also had a significant effect on the success and progress of the department.

However, we are aware that ‘the only constant is change’ so we welcome Dan Mason from Hitchin Boys School who will teach Y6,7 and 8 classes. Charlotte Walker will have a greater role in the department teaching a couple of Y6 classes and we welcome back Jess Hone who will teach a Y6 set and three Y5 groups.

There are always challenges with change, but we are confident that we will look to continue to review and improve upon our high standards of teaching quality, and commitment to practical learning and safety.

Our Prep boys journeyed into the fascinating world of Forensic Entomology on Monday 24 May, thanks to Lower Sixth Former Ethan Ofosu. During a brilliant lunchtime Zoom presentation, Ethan explained how the study of insects is used in criminal investigations—telling the story of forensic entomology from its early uses back in 1247 to modern-day cases like the famous Lobato case.

Ethan explained how forensic entomologists use the succession of species and individual species life cycles to help identify a time of death. Not to mention the many external factors that can affect insects on bodies, such as time of day (flies, like us, are diurnal and like to sleep at night!), aeration and temperature/season. The boys also discovered what attracts flies to a body in the first place and how bugs can be used to determine the location of death.

Speaking after the presentation, Ethan told us, “I really enjoyed sharing my knowledge of this field of forensics. It was a wonderful opportunity to, hopefully, inspire at least one of the boys to enter the world of forensics or maybe even become more interested in science as a whole because science is amazing and needs to be shared. When I was first getting interested in forensics, I would’ve really appreciated a talk by someone, so I am proud that I was able to do this.”

Ethan hopes to go into the field of forensics when he finishes school, possibly forensic toxicology, as he says, “It’s just too interesting not to.”

Thank you, that was amazing!” “Really interesting.” Prep Boys.