Budding scientists were put through their paces, when students from Smithdon High School led a series of experiments as part of British Science Week.

The Year 9 group visited pupils at Flitcham, Snettisham, Ingoldisthorpe, Dersingham, and Hunstanton primary schools in turn over the course of the week, delivering workshops for the children which featured a range of different activities designed to promote a love of science.

Our Science Teacher, Veronica Roper, who accompanied the students, explained: “We took five different activities, including a moss safari using microscopes to look at the moss and organisms living in it; a mini light show using coloured ray boxes, lenses, and screens; making a compass and investigating magnetism; using static electricity to make straws spin; and building electrical circuits to test the conductivity of different materials, as well as drawing graphite circuits to light an LED.”

Smithdon, which is a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, has been taking part in British Science Week for more than a decade, and there were plenty of other events taking place this time round.

“The theme this year was ‘Curiosity: What’s Your Question?’,” said our Head of Science, Claire Pike, who kicked off the week with a whole-school assembly on the theme.

“We took part in a poster competition, researched what it’s like to live and work in the Antarctic, and used microscopes to look at things like cobwebs and pet hair to see what they look like.”

Ten Year 8 students also attended a WNAT Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ‘Race to the Line’ challenge at Springwood High School, which tasked participants with designing, building, and racing their own CO2-powered model cars.

“We have promoted British Science Week at Smithdon for over ten years, and it is always fascinating to be able to look at science outside of the curriculum,” added Mrs Pike.

“We also focus on Science careers during the week, to promote where Science can take you.”