By Mrs Day (Co-Curricular and Community Outreach Manager)

On Monday 20th May, we had the pleasure of inviting 12 Years 7 and 8 students from Marston Vale Middle School BGS to participate in a biology dissection workshop. The students had been selected by their teachers as they have shown a keen interest in science.

Our Lower Sixth A Level and IB Biology students worked with each of the Marston Vale students one-to-one, supervised by Mrs Wathen (Head of Biology) to dissect a variety of organs and learn more about how each organ works. The whole morning was a great experience for the Marston Vale students who were able to participate in dissection for the first time and for our Lower Sixth students to help consolidate their knowledge through teaching younger students.

A Year 7 student from Marston Vale wrote: “We were paired with sixth form students who introduced themselves and helped us with the dissections. First, we dissected a heart, cutting down the sides to identify the thinner left side and the thicker right side. Next, we examined a bean-shaped kidney, revealing the pelvis inside. Finally, we dissected a sheep's eye, removing fat and cutting it open to release aqueous humour and find the lens.

“Following our break, the teacher Mrs Wathen explained a little bit more about what different parts to look for when dissecting, like veins and bones. Our next dissection was a salmon head where we were looking for the fish’s gills. Mrs Wathen demonstrated the function of the lungs by using a pluck; it was made of a pair of lungs, heart and liver.

“I am very glad that me and others got to go to the school and learn in more depth about the different organs within animals. I really enjoyed the experience and so did everyone else as well as the teachers; all through the journey home I was excited to share my amazing experience with others.”

Alicia Hui and Hannah Chirayil (Lower Sixth) reflected: “The dissection workshop was a delightful experience, allowing us to interact and mentor younger students from Marston Vale Middle School. The students successfully dissected various organs such as sheep hearts, kidneys, eyes and more under the guidance of Sixth Formers.”