Step Inside the Barton Science Centre

Step inside the Barton Science Centre

The Barton Science Centre opened in January, with boys using its state-of-the-art facilities from the start of the Lent Term.

Named after distinguished British organic chemist Sir Derek Barton, a former pupil of the school, and a Nobel Prize winner 50 years ago, the spectacular, three-storey building places science and technology at the very heart of school life.

View of the Chapel from a Laboratory

One of the most ambitious developments to happen at the school since its first science building was constructed in 1887, the Barton Science Centre blends new classrooms, laboratories and latest technology with many of the architectural features from the original Victorian building. Designed to stimulate interest and curiosity about all the sciences – Physics, Chemistry and Biology – the centre includes an interactive periodic table, a TV wall, its own bee hive, a roof garden [as pictured on the magazine's cover page], a greenhouse and a library, to name just a few of its new features.

The school’s Head of Science, Bill Burnett, described the Barton Science Centre as "striking, innovative and simply fun to be a part of.” He added: “It’s a world-class environment for innovative teaching and learning, where we decided that no two rooms would be the same.

Headmasters Kemp, Everett, Haynes, Hammond and Priory stand behind the Barton Science Centre's commemorative plaque

“Some classrooms, for instance, have a very flexible layout with chairs and desks, and so the teacher might sometimes be in the centre of the room, to encourage discussions. Other rooms are set up for independent study and experiments. Even the stairs and walls are adorned with scientific symbols and names, and they too are part of the learning experience.”

Designed to foster even greater curiosity about science, and to stimulate cross-curricular activity, the centre will also have a wider public benefit. It will enable the school to enhance its outreach programmes, such as the ‘Science for Schools’ days for local pupils, host public lectures, and become a regional hub for the whole community.

The Science for Schools programme runs on Wednesday afternoons: many primary school children come to the Tonbridge labs, where they grow crystals, carry out mini-experiments, build parachutes, learn about maggots and generally have fun with science.

The school is also running an exciting programme of science activities for boys, showcasing the potential of the new building. In March, Tonbridge became the first school in the UK to host ‘Mission Discovery’, a week-long course in which teams of pupils from local schools design an experiment to be flown to, and tested on the International Space Station. This ground-breaking event was led by NASA astronauts, Dr Michael Foale and Dr Steve Swanson, alongside experts from King's College London and the International Space School Educational Trust (ISSET).

NASA astronauts Dr Michael Foale and Dr Steve Swanson unveil the plaque

Dr Foale and Dr Swanson took centre stage during the official opening of the building on Saturday 23 March. The pair, who both served as commanders of the International Space Station, gave a short talk in which they recounted their experiences of going into space, and gave their impressions of the new science facility. “This is a centre which will inspire the next generation ... where students can start to have ideas, interests and dreams,” Dr Swanson said. Dr Foale added: “You have ignited a fire here in Tonbridge for learning and discovery, and for achieving something special.”