British Science Week at our school has been a fantastic journey of discovery, experimentation, and inspiration! With a packed schedule of activities, lessons, and special events, students from all year groups had the chance to immerse themselves in the wonders of science.

Year 7 ~ The Art of Fizz Bombs

Our Year 7 students got hands-on with chemistry by making their own fizz bombs! This exciting experiment introduced them to chemical reactions, acids, bases, and the science behind bath bombs.

Year 8 ~ Adaptation in Action

As part of their preparation for the upcoming Wildwood trip, Year 8 students explored the fascinating world of adaptations. Through engaging lessons, they learnt how animals and plants have evolved to survive in their environments. This session sparked curiosity about the natural world and set the stage for even more discoveries during their trip.

Science Quizzes in Form Time 

Throughout the week, students put their scientific knowledge to the test with our special science-themed quizzes during form time. Friendly competition, teamwork, and plenty of “aha!” moments made for an exciting challenge.

Senior Science Society ~ Exploring the Universe and Beyond

Our Senior Science Society continued to impress with their weekly Science in the News talk on Thursday lunchtime in M15. This week’s topic? Gravity – Do We Need It? The discussion took students on an intellectual journey through physics, questioning one of the fundamental forces of the universe. Adding to the excitement, members of the society also attended a lecture at UCL on missions to Mars, exploring the possibilities of life beyond Earth. These thought-provoking sessions have undoubtedly inspired our budding scientists to think big and reach for the stars! Please check out the report below from our Year 12 students.

A Spectacular Finale with Ian Dunne

To close British Science Week in style, we were thrilled to welcome Ian Dunne – a chemist, pyrotechnician, author, maths showman, science storyteller, educational polymath, and all-around entertaining science showman! His captivating 'Magic Science… or Science Magic?' show had everyone on the edge of their seats, proving that science is not just about facts and formulas but about wonder, imagination, and excitement.

British Science Week has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the power of science in our daily lives. A huge thank you to all the students and staff who took part and helped make it such a memorable event. Until next year - keep questioning, keep exploring, and keep loving science!

Mrs Moore, Head of Science

Last Saturday, the Senior Science Society had the pleasure of attending the Festival of Astronomy and Planetary Science, hosted jointly by University College London and Birkbeck, University of London. This was an engaging and informative afternoon, featuring several interactive stalls and fascinating talks on space exploration led by researchers from the UCL/Birkbeck Centre for Planetary Sciences.

We delved into topics including the fabric of spacetime, exoplanets, the hunt for life on Mars and even had a tour of the night sky in the pop-up planetarium, as well as a detailed explanation of the functioning of both refractor and reflector telescopes. There was also the opportunity to test drive a scale version of the European Space Agency's upcoming Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover and a demonstration of the infrared cameras being used by the James Webb Space Telescope. The provision of virtual reality headsets meant we were also able to explore the various telescopes at UCL’s Mill Hill Observatory in NW London.

Overall, the Festival was a highly enjoyable and inspiring experience that deepened my understanding of the universe and I look forward to the next event!

Hari Rehal, Year 12

On Saturday, myself and other Senior Science Society students had the opportunity to visit the Universe Parade in central London. There, we experienced many different activities, such as exploring the world’s most iconic observatories and powerful telescopes in VR, as well as learning about exoplanets and rovers. My favourite part was talking to ESA representatives and university students about the newest rover, Rosalind Franklin, planned to explore the surface of Mars, as part of the ExoMars mission. It was fascinating to learn about how the rover could collect samples up to 2m from the Martian surface using a drill, and then study the composition of the rocks and soil to detect any minerals or organic molecules. The mission is designed to help prove whether there was life on Mars a long time ago, by gathering evidence from under the surface where the radiation from the Sun can’t reach. Overall, it was a very enlightening experience and I enjoyed it greatly.

Yu Qi Ong, Year 12

RSC Olympiad Competition

In January, thirty-eight Year 12 and 13 students participated in the 2025, RSC Chemistry Olympiad, sitting a very challenging 2-hour Chemistry paper.

Out of the 38 students, 7 received a Silver award and 1 received a Gold award, in addition to the 16 who received a Bronze award.

Gold
Leo Dunnookchand, Year 13

Silver
Alex Trillows, Year 12
   Jesse Oshogwe, Year 12   
Davina Gordynska, Year 12
(Alfred) Kin Ching Li, Year 12
Isaac Deane, Year 12
Matilda Jackson, Year 12
Morenike Olateru, Year 12