STEM Week

To coincide with British Science Week, we ran our own STEM week, with pupils immersed in a range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities.

Sixth Form subject representatives kicked off the week with a Monday morning assembly on Artificial Intelligence, exploring how AI is used in space exploration, design and medicine. At the same assembly, our pupil-led Space Society collected their medals following their recent victory at the Galactic Challenge at King’s College London.

We welcomed diverse and inspiring speakers during the week. The Year 7s had a fascinatingly gruesome talk from the author and science communicator Dr Kathryn Harkup, who discussed the science of poisonous elements. Dr Giovanni Giaroli, a child and adolescent Psychiatrist, spoke to Upper Sixth students on the topic of Prozac use. Alumna Nicki Spritz, MD of digital studio UsTwo, talked about building a career in the technology sector. The Physics department welcomed Frances Butcher, a Planetary Scientist, who spoke about Space Glaciers and their possible implications for life on Mars.

The Maths department hosted an escape room each lunch time, proving so popular that there were requests that they should be a permanent fixture. Girls were also challenged to crack codes in the box challenge and solve a daily puzzle.

Over fifty Year 10 students entered the Biology Challenge, a competition run by the Royal Society of Biology. Girls sat two 25-minute online tests – the results are released later this month. Eleven keen Physicists took part in the British Physics Olympiad GCSE Challenge, a very challenging paper – medals will be awarded soon! Well done to all who participated, following in the trail of some fantastic results from our Sixth Form Scientists this year.

SciSoc created volcanic eruptions by neutralising acid with a metal carbonate solution mixed with washing-up liquid and red food colouring; the Sixth Formers, who were preparing the mixtures, were clearly having as much fun as the Year 7 and 8s! Lower Sixth DT students also enjoyed running a design competition for Year 8 students, challenging them to design and make a parachute to help an egg to land safely. And younger DT students bravely undertook teaching their teachers (including Mrs Bingham) how to make practical items in lunchtime DT club.

Students had an opportunity to puzzle, quiz, experiment, design, explore and discover – another successful and fun-filled STEM week.

STEM subjects form an integral part of the core curriculum at South Hampstead and are popular choices at A Level, Science and Maths especially; increasing numbers of Sixth Form leavers (around 40%) go on to pursue degrees in STEM subjects. We often welcome back alumnae ambassadors who work in various STEM fields to share their knowledge and inspire current pupils. Physics Teacher Ms Russo, one of our inspiring all-female Physics Department, was recently invited to the Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai to speak about how to get more girls into STEM.