Some Science-related activities which have taken place this term include:
- 3 teams of Year 9 students representing HGS in the Physics ‘Big Quiz’ held at Birmingham University on Friday 25 January
- a visit to Thinktank on Tuesday 5 February, organised by Mr Mohsin for 30 Year 10 students, for a Royal Society of Chemistry Workshop about real life applications of Chemistry, and how the subject impacts upon wider society
- a visit to Birmingham Metropolitan College by 28 Year 9 students for a Science Fair
- a Science-themed weekend residential for Year 9 students, visiting Dinorwic Pumped-storage Power Station (among other sites)
- a Planetarium Show for all Year 7 students on Tuesday 19 March, organised by Mr Bansal
- visits by Year 5 students from Grove Primary School, hosted by Mr Mohsin as part of ‘Science Week’ activities
- Year 7 Science Club taking place after school on Mondays, this term led by Mr Mark Cruddington, a Physics undergraduate from Birmingham University
Amrit Sandhu (Year 9) writes:
‘On Tuesday 5 March, 30 Year 9’s went to the Matthew Boulton Campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College with Mr Jones and Mr Arnold for an exciting trip about Science. Firstly we went to a technology room and there were different tables. There was an Xbox 360 with a game that we could play in 3D; while we played, some experts taught us about the 3D effect and how it works. Also, there was a table that had optical illusions on paper and we were taught about different types of optical illusions. Afterwards, we went inside another laboratory and learned about different types of blood splatter coming from different angles, and we also produced a fingerprint to keep in a key ring. Some of us then went into yet another room and learned about different types of animals that were in danger of becoming extinct, and we also held animals like a chinchilla and even a cockroach! We also learned about how doctors can tell if you are ill by looking in your ear, and heard a short history about micro-organisms.’
Jules Singh (Year 9) writes:
‘On the Friday 8 March, eight Year 9 students went on a residential with Mr Jones, Mr Mohsin and Miss Hurley to Snowdonia in North Wales. Halfway there on Friday evening, we stopped off in Llangollen for some Fish and Chips. The Youth Hostel where we were staying (Idwal Cottage) had a self-catering kitchen in which a big breakfast was prepared each morning. On Saturday, after a walk up to a nearby lake, we visited a Hydro-electric Power station that was hidden in a mountain! We were driven in a minibus along the miles of tunnel actually inside the mountain and could walk around to look at parts of the turbines and generators. After our visit we headed to Caernarvon for some lunch. We then headed to an old slate mine (in Blaenau Ffestiniog) where we had a tour and learned how children as young as ten worked in the mines from 6am until 6pm, and only had 3 days holiday each year! There was a Pool table at the Hostel where we played that night, as well as trying out a few board games. On Sunday we walked over an aqueduct near Llangollen. It was so high up! Everyone had a good time on the trip.’
Back in the laboratories, it has been a busy time with students in Years 10-13 carrying-out Controlled Assessment activities as part of their GCSE and A level courses. Congratulations are due to a number of students (again in Years 10-13) who achieved excellent results for their January modules. In particular, the top three Year 10 Science overall performers were Khubbaib Hasan, Aadam Sufi and Arjun Virk. Well done also to Year 12 Physicists Nazem Khan and Gulfraz Ahmed for achieving full marks on their January AS papers.
Mr P Jones
