On Wednesday 6th March, Oxford High School GSDT welcomed sixty enthusiastic Year 5 pupils from St Francis Primary School and St John Fisher Primary School as part of its Junior Engineering, Maths and Science (JEMS) outreach programme. JEMS aims to ignite a passion for science and learning amongst young children.
JEMS, a longstanding programme at Oxford High School, serves as a platform for inspiring young minds to pursue their passion for science. This particular session, aligned with the theme of Time for British Science Week 2024, provided an exciting opportunity for the Year 5 pupils to engage in hands-on experiments under the mentorship of Year 8 Oxford High School pupils.
Throughout the day, the Year 5 pupils were immersed in a series of experiments focusing on the concept of time. They eagerly explored their reaction times by constructing a series of circuits using lamps and buzzers. The interactive nature of the activities promised an unforgettable learning experience for all involved.
One of the core benefits of the JEMS outreach programme is the reciprocal learning it fosters. Oxford High School pupils not only had the opportunity to reinforce their understanding through teaching, but they also developed invaluable leadership and communication skills in the process. Additionally, for the Year 5 pupils, this event offered a unique chance to delve into scientific exploration beyond their regular curriculum, allowing them to discover and engage with topics they may not have otherwise encountered .
“Today was like being a real scientist! I loved experimenting with circuits and testing my reactions.” Year 5 pupil
“The children I worked with where extremely good and all had their own abilities. One was really good at maths and helped everyone with their addition and division whereas another one was very artistic and worked on the more creative aspect of the experiment. This experience also allowed me to take the lead and teach them new skills while also learning things for myself such as how to communicate with younger pupils!” Maria, Year 8
The success of the JEMS outreach programme underscores the importance of collaboration and community engagement at Oxford High School GDST. By providing opportunities for mentorship and hands-on learning, OHS continues to make a positive impact on the wider community and inspire young minds to pursue their passion for science.
