As part of the school’s ongoing refurbishment plans, students and staff were greeted after the summer holiday with an innovative and remodelled Science Department.

Science teaching has increasingly become enquiry-led learning, with the focus on individual problem solving and collaborative working. We have designed our new labs for 21st century teaching, where the space and technology can be used in ways that are more flexible.

At the centre of the development is an I-Create space, a dedicated area to be used for collaboration, workshops and lectures. It is overlooked by the new Biology and Chemistry preparatory area - these spaces will give the girls more of an insight into the wealth of possibilities of working in the STEM areas. Five labs have also been renovated and reconfigured.

Mrs Smart, Head of Science, adds: “The new labs have been carefully designed to allow for flexible teaching with movable benches. Possible layouts are endless and include group work, practical work and a more traditional teaching layout where all girls can easily view the new interactive Clevertouch screens or slidable whiteboards. We no longer adopt the ‘demo at the front’ approach and girls are encouraged to be as hands on as possible, involved in designing their own experiments and working collaboratively using collective skills to problem solve.”

Mrs Smart, will be discussing the changes in Science curriculum, and the way Science is delivered at BGS, at out first Curriculum Conversation of the year on Monday 24th September. Details will be emailed to all parents shortly.