Since the return to school in March we have seen unprecedented numbers of students coming to our after-school STEM clubs.  There have been up to 100 students turning up every week to take part in some exciting practical activities.

 

Year 7 have both a STEM club and a general science club.  STEM club have been investigating renewable energy and wind turbines as part of our project supported by the Royal Society.  They have built their own mini wind turbines and then moved on to investigate how wings produce lift.  The science club activities have been varied, and include energy from crisps, looking at crystals and pollen under a microscope.

 

Year 8 have built water rockets, carried out flame tests, extracted DNA, leaf chromatography, and also carried out heart and lung dissections.

 

Year 9 have been continuing with their project funded by a Royal Society Partnership Grant.  They have been working with our academic partner, Professor Patrick Fairclough from Sheffield University, for two years on their research looking in to making wind turbines from scrap car parts.  Entitled “Can you feed your phone for free?”, their research has looked at all aspects of wind turbine design.  They have succeeded in creating a working model, following prototype testing in the wind tunnel at the University.  Next steps will be to improve its output, and hopefully present their work at the Royal Society in London.

 

Our STEM Clubs have been fortunate to have now received some funding from the Horizon Holgate Trust to help us build on our work and successes this year.  Our school garden will be used by school ambassadors, students in alternative provision and The Abbey School.  Our plans include bee friendly flowers, and students growing their own fruit and vegetables.  We will continue our important work on renewable energy and introduce new projects.  In addition, plan some fun competitions and have plans to attempt to break two world records!