By Ms Gethins (Head of Science)

During the summer term, we have invited 90 Year 5 students from Putnoe Primary School to visit BGS to experience science workshops in our labs. In all, we have held four workshops, each time inviting up to 24 students. This has been a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with the local community and, hopefully, inspire the next generation of young scientists.

In preparation for the workshops, BGS students from Years 8, 10 and the Lower Sixth, who are working towards Youth STEMM Awards, have been trained up in four science activities so that they can lead the sessions. This has been an excellent opportunity for them to develop their own scientific skills, as well as their leadership skills. It has been a pleasure to watch them gaining confidence in teaching the year 5 students and the young people really look up to them as role models.

We have had positive feedback from Putnoe Primary School staff and their students have been well-behaved and very engaged in the tasks. Hopefully, we will be able to offer similar workshops in future years.

Serena Hirani (Year 8) added: “I found the Science Workshop with Putnoe Primary School to be a very enjoyable experience. We were able to work together and develop our communication skills. During the workshop, there were four groups with six Putnoe students in each one. Throughout the workshop we were able to learn more about each other and engage. We took the students through four science activities - Cartesian Diver, Fruit Batteries, Onion Cells, and Red Cabbage Indicator. After each activity, the students were to write down what they did and a conclusion for the experiment. In the onion cells experiment, they had to draw what they saw under their microscope. I think all the students had a great time at the workshop and I’m glad they all learnt something new.”

Ayesha Bacon (Year 8) added: “Over the past two weeks, a group of students working towards a bronze STEMM Award, including myself, have been helping out with science workshops for the Year 5 students of Putnoe Primary School. This was set up for us by Ms Gethins, who is organising the STEMM Awards. She thought it would be a perfect opportunity for our e-portfolios, as the workshop fits into a section of the award called Inspiring the Next Generation. Different classes of Year 5 students came to Bedford Girls’ School and spent two hours with us, each BGS student leading one of the groups.”