18 minute read
INVENTIVE SCIENCE
EXPERIMENTS AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE
Scientists are our hope for the future, so how do schools bring STEM to life and give young people the practical skills and creativity they need to take their skills and knowledge further? Absolutely Education investigates
Northwood Schools
At Northwood Schools, science is central. The four linked schools – Broomwood Hall Lower and Upper, Northcote Lodge and Northwood Senior – give students extensive access to both facilities and expertise from the early years. There are three labs across the prep schools, plus a dedicated Design and Technology space with state-of-the-art machinery.
Immersive and hands-on are the order of the day here from the start. So, whether it’s digging in dirt, steaming wood or designing and building a bridge, the aim is always to feed curiosity and teach practical investigative skills. For instance, at Northcote Lodge, the science fair tasks boys to create a hypothesis then conduct a suitable experiment, write up the results and present findings to visiting judges from Northwood Senior.
The schools run dissection clubs to enable children to understand the intricacies of biology, bringing science to life with real organs. Children also design and build rockets and bridges to put engineering and physics to the test. Visiting scientists and engineers give talks and there are trips to exciting museums – the Old Operating Museum and Science Museum among them – as well as science days at senior schools.
Northwood Schools believes in the power of cross-curricular learning – whether it’s building buggies in DT or Rube Goldberg instructions in Art or Lego robots and 3D designs in Computing. During book week the science labs become hives of Harry Potter potions and there’s a wildly popular and deadly serious crosscurricular CSI day at Northwood Senior. At this grisly science event, students solve a ‘whodunnit’ using blood spatter analysis, fingerprinting, hair analysis and chromatography – even working out the height of the culprit from shoe sizes.
UP CLOSE SCIENCE AT ST CATHERINE’S, BRAMLEY HUMAN BIOLOGY EXPLAINED AT NORTHWOOD SCHOOLS
St Catherine’s, Bramley
At St Catherine’s, Bramley, there are nine fully equipped Science Labs in the Senior School and a new (opened 2019) WonderLab in the Prep. With these excellent facilities, the school takes its work beyond the school gates too, running ‘Super Science Summer Workshops’ for children aged 8-10 from a local state school. The children join St Catherine’s science teachers and Lower 6 science mentors in the WonderLab to get hands on, building flying machines, exploring materials using slime and investigating life through maggots.
St Catherine’s Sixth Form girls thinking of STEM degrees and careers can join a four-term engineering project involving the technical build of a Lotus ‘Seven’ kit car. This project gives them the opportunity to explore construction materials, mechanics and suspension geometry, as well as engine technology. Blended study is also a feature here. For instance, one current student is studying Computer Science, Art and Maths at A level, along the way exploring concepts of control and communication in Art inspired by Tony Oursler and Jim Campbell. She is heading on to study Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics.
There are clubs for the individual sciences and this year students entered the British Physics Olympiad experimental challenge. A large group of Sixth Form students recently took part in the Schools’ Analyst Competition in Chemistry, working in teams to use four analytical techniques and find the best ingredients for fish and chips! Live science events are designed to be fun. For the Physics Rollercoaster, U5 girls go to Thorpe Park. They experience the rides but are also set tough challenges
by the school’s Head of Physics – from the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy, gravity, velocity and speed.
St Catherine’s Sixth Formers will visit CERN Control Centre in 2023 (following on from the last trip of 2019) to see the Large Hadron Collider. Closer to home, L6 psychologists had the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes visit to meet St Catherine’s alumna and director of the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging Professor Cathy Price. They were able to see the world’s most advanced brain scanner to date – the OPM – and understand more about how it uses magnetic fields. Researchers expect this to be the next leap for brain scanning technology because it can scan people’s brains while they are mobile.
Oakham School
At Oakham, there’s a a ‘hands on’ approach to learning science subjects and using methods which challenge students’ thinking, as well as developing creative and technical skills. With state-of-theart spaces and labs, STEM core subjects are taught from Year 6 onwards.
Inquiry-based projects are introduced early on using the FOSIL framework, which encourages pupils to investigate topics and theories for themselves.
FIRING IMAGINATIONS AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE
Tim Weston, Head of Design and Technology at Oakham School, says: “A great thing about our STEM subjects is that they all have experimental aspects which pupils really respond well to”. He says one thing students enjoy is the idea that nothing is ever completed – it can always be improved. “It keeps them coming back to a piece of work or a theory and seeing how they can progress it further.”
Showing links and overlaps between subjects encourages engagement and horizontal curriculums help to identify when content and skills can be developed further. Leo Dudin, Deputy Head Academic at Oakham, says it’s about encouraging pupils to “think creatively, critically and reflectively” in all areas. “In Years 7–9 our curriculum is based around the acclaimed IB Middle Years Programme,” he adds. “The IB MYPaddresses our pupils’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing and gives them the opportunities to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to manage complexity.”
Collaborations between Art and Biology – and even DT, Biology and History to review the history of medical devices in World War I – show how this cross-disciplinary learning can work to enrich learning in multiple disciplines. That project included a talk by BLESMA, an armed forces charity for limbless veterans. Students were then tasked to design key medical devices that might be used to evacuate casualties.
Students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of challenges and extracurricular projects. For instance, groups have participated in the TeenTech Awards, the Middle School take part in the UK-wide Biology Challenge and the Sixth Form compete in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Olympiads. School science clubs are a mainstay, and the school o ers the Physics Gold CREST.
In the Upper School, Oakham supports the extension of ideas through multiple science societies and activities such as
film nights and quizzes. Further Biology, Chemistry and Physics sessions are o ered, along with specialist groups. For instance, DocSoc is a long-established group to support aspiring health care professionals. Another project available to 16+ pupils is the Industrial Cadets Gold Award, which sees pupils working on real-life problems with a company. Students have the opportunity to engage first hand with mentors in projects led by industry experts.
DISSECTION AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE
Brighton College
Recently named Top School in Britain for STEM subjects by The Week magazine, Brighton College has long been a pioneer of progressive science teaching, linking subjects in inspiring ways. The Week noted that: ‘Its stunning new School of Science and Sport is evidence of its commitment’. Designed by OMA architecture practice, the building includes 18 universitystandard labs, breakout spaces, ‘bio lab’ greenhouse on the roof and cinema-style auditorium for live science events.
The school, which o ers co-education for ages 3-18, has a science-led approach from the start. Specialist teaching begins in prep years, and by the time students step up to senior level, they cover the three core sciences separately, along with related learning in IT, Coding and DT. Beyond the curriculum, there’s a full suite of clubs and activities – from Medical Society and Dissection Club to Physics Crest, Sound Recording, Lego Robotics and Games Programming. The Women in STEM webinar series, featuring events with female academics, was launched late year by Heather Justice, Software Engineer and Mars Rover Driver at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. This series was also opened to girls at local state schools.
Every type of STEM competition is entered by pupils – major awards include the British Physics Olympiad and the Corpus Christi College Schools Science Prize for Materials Science. Students have also attended the International Olympiad on Astronomy competition in India and every year a team compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition in Turkey.
REED’S STUDENTS HAVE A WEALTH OF SCIENCE FACILITIES
Mayfield School
At Mayfield School, science is brought to life in a variety of ways and with emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking, problem solving and teamwork. For instance, in Year 7 and 8 the school runs a themed cross-curricular day each term. “Girls are taken o timetable to explore topics in greater depth and bring to life the links between subjects,” says Head of Lower School Claire Baker. Recent examples have included Earth Day, Moon Camp, Code Breaking, and the Cookie Project. During the two-day Moon Camp, girls worked as a team to design and pitch an idea for a base on the Moon. “Each member of the group took on di erent responsibilities and aspects of the challenge, with some conducting scientific experiments to evaluate window designs to withstand the lunar environment, and then exploring the challenges of living, working, eating and exercising in a low
MAYFIELD PUPILS SOLVE A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE
gravity environment,” adds Claire Baker.
Some girls used 3D CAD software to create a model of part of their moon base, while a third sub-group used their creative skills to produce artwork and logos to build a brand identity. Girls learned about communication and teamwork and finally had to pitch their proposed Moon Camp to a panel of judges. Events such as this, bring the curriculum to life and help students to develop their soft skills, as well as their scientific knowledge.
As girls progress, so does the level and pace of scientific challenges. The school’s Innovate programme, led by David Warren, was introduced in 2019 for Year 9 girls. For their first project, students develop a prototype electronic device to help tackle the challenges presented by a climate or environmental issue. For the second project, they use 3D design and manufacturing to create something to combat a real-world issue. This might be, for instance, a product to assist those with a disability or medical condition.
At Sixth Form, Maths and Sciences are the most popular A-level subjects. Head of Sixth Form John Doy says almost half the current cohort of 60 are going on to study maths- or science-based courses. Mayfield encourages girls to think about science, whatever their ultimate goal, and many choose eclectic A-level combinations – for instance Chemistry and Ceramics. Such choices can be career enhancing and rewarding. One recent alumna, now studying Engineering at Cambridge, produced an A-level project for Art that evolved from a set of scientific drawings of flora and fauna.
Reed’s School
Located in Cobham, Reed’s o ers a wealth of science facilities for its students, with 16 science laboratories. There’s also the school’s flagship FutureTech building, a multi-use facility supporting the STEM programme. It contains an electronics studio, computer suite and workshops for DT.
The school takes that view that, since pupils’ lives are far more dominated by technology than in the past, the curriculum must reflect that reality. FutureTech recognises the importance of these emerging technologies. Along with the three traditional sciences, Reed’s o ers a triple set of technology subjects – Computing, Electronics and Engineering at GCSE.
A FutureTech programme is embedded within the curriculum – all Year 9 pupils experience a wide range of cross-curricula STEM topics that improve practical and problem-solving skills. The course covers six topics, which vary annually but have included areas such as Robotics using the Vex IQ, Coding with Sphero, Engineering of Airplanes, Building the Modern Home, and Technology in the Tour
ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE HAS A LONG TRADITION IN SCIENCE TEACHING AND A CROSS-CURRICULAR APPROACH
de France. The topics not only engage pupils with ‘real world’ applications, but also foster independent learning and bring an exciting glimpse into subjects not o ered at GCSE and A level. Lectures from external STEM experts extend knowledge and understanding and are shared with students across the school.
The extracurricular programme at the school includes clubs such as Robotics, Greenpower Challenge, McLaren Challenge, Land Rover 4x4 challenge and Technology. At Engineering Club, Sixth Form students have the opportunity to conduct a series of engineering projects and activities to prepare them for a variety of university courses.
There are plenty of other opportunities for Reed’s pupils to experience live science. The Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge is entered by all pupils in Years 7 to 9. There are visits to Bletchley Park and science Olympiads to provide academic stretch. The school also enters Surrey SATRO – challenges using knowledge from across the STEM curriculum. Reed’s students are regular visitors to outside centres of excellence, including the Royal Institution in London and the Rutherford Appleton Labs at Oxford.
St Dunstan’s College
St Dunstan’s has a long tradition of investing in science – its original school governors wished it to ‘have special reference to technical education’. This was in 1888, a time when most public schools focused on Latin and Greek. It soon earned endorsements and was visited by delegations who wanted to learn more about its unique approach.
Fast forward to the 21st century and the investment continues, with the new stateof-the-art STEM Centre for Excellence and Innovation. Students from Year 7 onwards receive specialist teaching in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Design Engineering. It includes practical resources for active science projects and experiments, each with a full-time technician attached to assist in theheuristic(hands-on) approach the school still favours for teaching STEM subjects.
Mathematics is housed within the STEM Centre to facilitate cross-curricular projects, which always come to the fore during the St Dunstan’s Festivalfortnight at the end of each academic year. This is when students go ‘o -piste’ with quirky project-based learning that bridges di erent subjects. “A key outcome for STEM education at St Dunstan’s is for students to realise the ‘live’ nature of these subjects, and for them to become scientists, engineers, and mathematicians actuallydoingthesciencein a practical way,” says Deputy Head Academic Jonathan Holmes. He adds that the freedom o ered as an independent school, in particular for Years 7-9, is an opportunity to challenge young people to discover how their knowledge links back to the real world.
St Dunstan’s supports enthusiasm for science with conventions and events. It recently held its first ‘Where can mathematics take you?’ careers event, drawing in an array of industries – from finance and architecture to digital music and games development. There are plenty of external trips and events to reinforce the relevance of STEM – from a Year 8 Chemistry trip to the L’Oréal Institute to learn about commercial materials science to trips to London Zoo for zoological clubs. The Biology Department’s in-house animal science club is also hugely popular, with students caring for live animals as part of their extended learning.
Focus on the FUTURE
Celebrating its 125th birthday, Eaton House Schools has grown from one London prep to a thriving family of fi ve schools combining tradition with a modern approach to education
By LIBBY NORMAN
A PUPIL FROM EATON HOUSE THE MANOR
Eaton House Schools is a stalwart of the London education scene, now encompassing fi ve schools across two historic sites – one in the heart of Belgravia and the other overlooking leafy Clapham Common. This year, it is celebrating its 125th birthday. It champions single-sex education, with co-ed nurseries, and is known for giving boys and girls the strong start needed for top schools and a bright future. The founder of the original Belgravia boys’ school was Thomas Sale Morton, a renowned
Classics scholar and author – also tutor to the young Harold Macmillan. Indeed, it was the future UK Prime Minister’s mother Helen (Nellie) Artie Tarleton Belles who encouraged the gifted educationalist to establish a prep school. It was known originally as Cliveden Place
Preparatory School and inhabited 35 Cliveden
Gate, moving several times to accommodate its swelling cohort, before a 1937 relocation to the premises at 3 Eaton Gate that still forms part of the school today. During World War II, pupils were evacuated to Haines Hill, a stately home in Berkshire. When the school returned to the capital a year after the War, 5 Eaton Gate was purchased in order to manage growing pupil numbers for the school – by now known as
Eaton House. Morton had handed over the reins to Robin T. Gladstone (said to be a relative of
William Gladstone) in 1910 and the Ingham family – previous owners of Westminster Kindergarten
Preparatory School – took charge in 1959. The late 1970s brought an exciting chapter under the visionary stewardship of the Harper family, Hilary Harper, newly married to Don
Harper, bought the school in 1977. She was then Head of the Junior School and already had 14 years’ service with the school. Under the Harper family’s leadership, the school went from strength to strength academically, becoming known for outstanding results in the 7+ and 8+ exams for the boys under its charge. The Harpers spotted the future Eaton House
The Manor when they were driving through south-west London. This fi ne Georgian manor overlooked Clapham Common Northside and Gate, and with a co-ed Nursery. Alongside that early benefi ciary Harold Macmillan, other notable alumni include actors Sir Laurence Olivier and Eddie Redmayne, author Philip Pullman and adventurer Bear Grylls. It has an outstanding reputation for sending boys on to schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s and King’s College Wimbledon.
Hilary Harper retired in 2016, and her daughter Luchie Cawood took over. A new chapter began in 2021 when Eaton House Schools joined the Dukes Education family. Sarah Seagrave – Headmistress of Eaton House The Manor since 2016 – took on the role of Principal of the Group in September 2022.
While a tailored approach to develop each pupil’s academic potential has always been Eaton House Schools’ philosophy, strong pastoral care, creative and sporting opportunities and a spirit of giving back are equally embedded. Generations of children have been educated across the two sites in Belgravia and Clapham, becoming a familiar site thanks to their distinctive uniforms and participation in community life. Wherever children’s talents and passions lie, the approach at Eaton House Schools has always been the same – to ensure they fl ourish.
was a signifi cant local landmark. Known as Byrom House and ‘The Beeches’, it o ered both space and huge potential. The Harpers took it on as a project, developing the 1.5-acre site as a nursery, pre-prep and prep. Eaton House The Manor opened in 1993 and rapidly became an integral part of Clapham life.
Like its Eaton House Belgravia sibling, Eaton House The Manor developed an exceptional academic reputation and growing cohort. Further refurbishment took place from 2003 and fi ve years later, it opened a separate girls’ school. This meant Eaton House The Manor now o ered a co-ed nursery with single-sex pre-prep and prep education for boys and girls on one site. Facilities have been added over the years, including an underground gym, new labs and a theatre. It has also championed sustainability – from generating its over half its own electricity to supporting wildlife with its 300 square metres of green roofs and its ‘living walls’. It also continues to shine academically – with 38 scholarships and a Starred Pass to Eton for boys’ and girls’ schools in 2022 alone.
Huw May became Headmaster of Eaton House Belgravia in 2017 and the school now educates boys aged 2-11 on one site in Eaton
PRINCIPAL SARAH SEAGRAVE AND SOME MANOR PUPILS
