On Monday 26th February 2024, twenty Year 10 students embarked on a visit to the annual GCSE Science Live, an enriching presentation orchestrated by expert scientists with the intention of inspiring students to fulfil their potential. We arrived at Symphony Hall in the heart of Birmingham at 10 am sharp and were guided into the magnificent hall which housed over 2000 student coming from schools all over the country to hear these extraordinary scientists. After being provided with booklets which contained everything there was to know about the program, the show began with renowned biologist Professor Robert Winston, a man who was a part of the team involved with the invention of IVF in humans. He enlightened us all with his expertise in reproductive physiology and by the end of his performance, we were enriched with knowledge that could only be sourced from the best of the best. It was an amazing thing to hear from a person whose profession revolved around the very thing we study!

Next up was Dr Anna Ploszajski, an award-winning materials scientist and author of the popular Science book ‘Handmade’. Her talk was all about the amount of Science gone into the production of each and every man-made object in order to make it as suited to its function as possible. She told us her story about swimming the English Channel and made sure to explain all the Science behind her preparation to get through this astonishing feat. In addition, she gave us a memorable quote that helped her throughout her impressive journey – “The greatest view comes after the greatest climb”. This taught us specifically that when we try our free hardest, we will achieve the greatest outcome. After we finished listening, we were given a 15-minute break where we could have a walk around and purchase any snacks or drinks.

After the break, we were greeted by Dr Hannah Critchlow, an expert in Science communication and a scientist named one of Cambridge University’s inspirational and successful women in Science. Her knowledge-rich talk told us all about the human brain and delved us deep into the world of neuroscience, the fascinating study of the brain. I had the opportunity to ask her a question and impressively it stumped her! She was highly educated nonetheless and taught us effective ways to increase brain activity.

Following on, we had our long-awaited lunch and enjoyed some hearty meals before returning to the hall where we were met by theoretical physicist Professor Jim Al-Khalili, presenter of many famed Science documentaries and host of a weekly BBC Radio 4 program. He gave us an insight into theoretical physics and introduced us to the possibility of real time travel using the speed of light, a puzzling but enticing topic. It was here our knowledge of anything beyond Earth was boosted and it was a very enjoyable presentation.

Lastly, we were paid a visit by Chief Examiner Stewart Chenery, a man who informed us of all the do’s and don’ts of exams and taught us all about command words in test papers and how to structure exam answers. He also covered how the Sciences are tested and introduced us to some very essential revision techniques. This was really useful as we have all now been taught on how to approach our exams question by Chief Examiner himself! Soon after this, our day of learning came to an end as we all made our ways home feeling dejected that it was over but blessed that we had experienced this absolute gift of a program. It allowed us to explore new areas of Science that were previously unknown to us and gave us the opportunity to truly see the beauty of Science and how it shapes our world

Written by Adnan Wais (10G) and Daniel Alloh (10N)

Well-done to Arijus Ahmadian (9G), who was awarded with a fantastic opportunity to represent Birmingham City Football Club Academy in a Premier League Tournament at St George’s Park. This is the English Football Association’s national football centre, built on a 330-acre site at Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The site boasts no less than 14 elite outdoor pitches, including an exact replica of the Wembley surface, a full-sized Indoor 3G and a futsal arena. The tournament provided Arijus with invaluable experience, playing in a competition against some prestigious Premier League Football Academies and he was also given some expert training advice from the attending Premier League coaches.

As part of the Enrichment Day activities on Thursday 22^nd February, Year 9 visited Shrewsbury Prison, no longer a functioning prison but now a tourist attraction.  Rajan writes:

Shrewsbury prison was originally opened by Thomas Telford in 1793, and the present prison building was built in 1877. They originally took prisoners of both genders but it became male only in 1922. The prison was home to many executions, many of which used to be carried out in public. The last public execution was John Mapp in 1868 and the last execution was that of George Riley in 1961. The prison was decommissioned in 2013.

Our visit was split into two parts:

Before lunch, we were given a tour of the prison. We were shown around the many wings and cells, where we were shown how the treatment of prisoners evolved over time, and groups of five of us were locked into cells together. My favourite part of the tour was the execution room. We learned about the history of the many hangings that took place in that very room. A fascinating fact I learned was that in order for the perfect hanging, the rope must typically be 3ft long, but the exact length was determined by the weight of the prisoner. Any longer and the head would rip off, and if it was shorter, the condemned would strangle to death.

After lunch we were given a challenge. We had a booklet full of questions and a map. We had to use the map to navigate around the prison and find the answers to these questions. Most teams managed to find the answers to almost every question.

I really enjoyed the trip; it was both fun and interesting and I learned a lot.

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As part of Children’s Mental Health Week, our Year 12 and 10 students worked with Kooth to produce this video to promote good mental health as part of their Legacy Project!! We’re really proud of their work!

Our recent ski trip to La Thuile in the Aosta Valley was nothing short of a breathtaking experience, with beautiful scenery, slopes of varying difficulty and unforgettable moments. As well as the skiing, our group engaged in a variety of après ski activities, contributing to the trip’s overall success.

Travelling to Italy on the coach (and ferry) was an experience itself, spanning an approximate 20-hours. Nevertheless, the hours passed quickly on the journey, filled with chatter, snacks, rest, more snacks and a shared joy of finally reaching the hotel.

After arriving on our first day (and having our boots and skis fitted) we had time to recover and settle into our new surroundings. The inviting Hotel Valdigne in the village of Morgex provided cozy rooms with incredible scenery of the snowy peaks to admire. We also visited the local supermarket to stock up on snacks, and then a nearby bar to watch football. The calm atmosphere allowed us to settle there as we rested ready to take on the adventures of the next day.

Skiing: Three out of the four ski groups began on the beginner slopes which offered an exciting introduction to the world of skiing. With great enthusiasm, we took on the task of learning the fundamentals of skiing under the direction of our skiing instructors. The gentle slopes provided the ideal place for this and although we took a few falls, we got back up ready for a harder challenge. After that, we moved onto the more challenging slopes further up the mountain. With many good laughs, delightful hot chocolate and occasional falls, we were left with lasting memories. We glided down the varieties of slopes surrounded by the winter landscape and skiers of all levels, navigating challenging runs.

Pizza night: A highlight of our trip was visiting nearby Courmayeur to explore the up-market shops and enjoy our pizza night. Before eating, we strolled through the cobblestone streets with twinkling lights and stylish window displays and wandered into unique shops as locals passed by. Finally, we all gathered in one of the most famous pizzerias in the town to enjoy mouthwatering, stone baked pizza. The pizza kept coming until we were full; the warmth of the pizzeria and the laughter of friends resulted in a very enjoyable experience for all.

Sports Hall: For the sports enthusiasts, we had a football night with 4 teams. We engaged in friendly matches with intense play and goals, and were joined by several Interski staff. Mr. Bird said he was the player of the evening although none of his goal attempts were successful! The matches showcased a diverse range of skills and competitiveness and left us with more everlasting memories.

Bowling night: On one afternoon after skiing, we headed to the town of Aosta and the glossy lanes of the local bowling alley, turning the evening into a spirited and fun-filled bowling display. The alleys echoed with laughter and the clatter of pins, as different groups engaged in friendly competition. As the bowling rounds ended, we explored the small arcade there and witnessed a ‘friendly’ match of pool between Mr. Jones and Mr. Bird. Filled with even more funny moments, the day came to an end.

Presentation and quiz night: Our group participated in a quiz night as the last evening activity of the trip. Preceding this, we were given certificates and badges by our instructors and treated to a short song played by one instructor.

The last day was filled with another exhilarating session of skiing, after which we headed back to the hotel to change and eat, ready to leave the Aosta Valley with lasting memories and embark upon our long journey home, sad to be leaving.

Hrithik, Year 9

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