What is science outreach at OHS? It is when we welcome Year 5 pupils from up to 14 different partner primary schools from around the county into our wonderful Science Department. We share our lab facilities where they carry out stretch-and-challenge experiments, and our own wonderful students share their time and energies to mentor and support them while they are with us.
The outreach has three main strands: a weekly session every Thursday mentored by Year 12 volunteers; a JEMS (Juniors in Engineering, Maths, and Science) morning every term mentored by Year 8, and an annual two-day summer school mentored by Year 9.
Last week, we held our 8th annual STEM summer school, this time with Year 5 pupils from New Marston Primary School. It was a joy to run again after a most unwelcome hiatus due to Covid. The pupils were with us in the labs for two whole days, carrying out investigative science experiments alongside 23 of our own Year 9 volunteers, who were all terrific. Overall, 50 Year 5 pupils examined the workings of the eye including a dissection, investigated planetary orbits and rocket fuel including generating their own hydrogen gas (aka the ‘squeaky pop’ test), separated a mixture of sand, salt, iron and peas, built towers that were almost stable, and learned how to recognise different metal salts using flame tests.
The Year 9 students dug deep and were indefatigably patient and good humoured, thinking on their feet to pare down complex concepts in an astonishing way. They were simply magnificent, and the New Marston staff could not praise them highly enough as they watched how their own students rose to every challenge – because ours gave them so much encouragement and confidence. Children of all ages love to learn together, and the Year 9s gained as much from the primary pupils as they did from us. Bravo to all the Year 9 students for giving them such a wonderful experience.
