|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
We could not let the opportunity to visit the Big Bang Fair pass as this year, it was held in London. The fair is the largest celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths for young people in the UK. It aims to show how many exciting and rewarding opportunities there are for those with the right qualifications and experience. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Through a number of practical and fun activities, 180 Year 10 students discovered where their subject choices can lead them. They spent an enjoyable day looking at the different careers in STEM subjects. The activities and resources at the fair are designed to highlight career opportunities and routes to these careers. The Fair gets students thinking about what jobs in science and engineering are really like. From designing a solar powered heater, exploring radioactivity with a Geiger counter and experimenting with a bionic eye, our students could see where their classroom subjects can lead. The Fair also gave lots of advice about applying for University courses and work experience placements.
Feedback was very positive, with many students saying it had opened their eyes to a number of career opportunities they had not considered before, especially where women are under-represented. |
|
|
 |
|
Many took advantage of returning over the weekend with their parents to spend more time looking at the stalls and workshops which were of exceptional quality.
Sonam Shah: ‘I discovered a whole range of engineering careers that interest me that I hadn’t considered before’. |
|
 |
|
|
Abby St John : ‘I am now interested in taking a career in Biology or Chemistry thanks to several of the stalls who explained the possibilities of these career options. I especially enjoyed the workshop STEM: It’s A Girl Thing’.
Jemma Langley: ‘I may now consider engineering as a possible career choice seeing as it involves much more than I had generally expected’. |
|
|
| |
 |
|
The weather was cold, snow was falling and it was more like December than March. However, inside, things were hotting up in the hall where Mr Cloves was putting students through their paces with some difficult maths concepts and puzzles. In the Maths block, teams were rising to the challenge of creating their own maths app which would be judged later in the day by a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style panel.
After lunch, each house gave a presentation in the hall demonstrating how they had created their app. Judging criteria were appearance, originality, pitch and the maths factor. Runners up were Athena who won an easter egg each for their ‘Pyrapuzzle’ app. Judges were impressed with their use of the ‘Boss pyramid’. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
However, the winners for the day were Seacole who each won a WH Smith voucher for their app ‘Arithmania’. Their game had been designed with many real life concepts eg using probability in a casino. The six best apps presented are now on display in the Maths block.
Feedback from the day was very positive with many students commenting that the day had made them think about using maths outside the classroom. They had also enjoyed working in teams which had highlighted their many individual skills. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Students came into school in PE kit, eager and enthusiastic to see what the day would bring.
This year, with an extra Tutor Group, the activities had been widened to cover more activities including art and dance.
Split into groups, students rotated between four different sessions; they made a card and gift tag in Textiles and Art, Lavender biscuits in Food Technology, a recipe card holder in Resistant Materials and, in Dance, they were creative in looking at how lavender grew, moved and was harvested. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before lunch, all groups came together in the Hall to listen to Mrs Maye, the owner of Mayfield Lavender, a local grower and producer in Banstead. Mrs Maye talked about the history of her fields, her organic approach to growing and the bugs you could encounter if you visited her fields in the summer months.
Students tested their sense of smell when asked to tell the difference between the three types of lavender that Mrs Maye grew; folgate, grosse and maillette.
During the plenary sessions after lunch, prizes were awarded for the best products. Feedback showed that it had been a very popular day and that students had enjoyed looking at the local connection with lavender. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'I found the day very interesting. I didn't know that lavender can influence us in such a big way, the ways in which lavender can be used amazed me.' Mithu Sumeshkumar, 7Sharman |
|
'The day was well-structured and interesting. Activities were well-balanced and I was never bored. It was a perfect day.'
Meg Riser, 7Bronte |
|
|
|
|
|
We were intrigued as to what the day could contain for us. How could we solve a murder in school? What kind of things would we learn?
It all became clear once the day started. We listened to Dr Walters, who talked about the different forensic science degrees and what kind of work they did. Mr Loakes from the Metropolitan Police, who is a Scene of Crime Officer, then outlined a typical working day and asked for two volunteers. As they were led away, we wondered what fate awaited them.
They reappeared wearing masks, gloves, shoes and a forensic science suit!
We learnt about the different types of forensic tests that give clues to solving crime, blood, fibres, fingerprints. There were many more than we had thought.
In the labs, we worked in teams to undertake a number of different tests. We examined blood, fibres, prints on bottles, soil and others. This led us towards the culprit.
In our teams, we presented out findings to our groups with prizes for the winning teams.
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
We had a very enjoyable day. Our thanks go to all the Science teachers and technicians who worked so hard on our behalf to make the day run so smoothly, especially Dr Walters and Mrs Hewevitarne.
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
| |
|
