Acute Respiratory Outbreaks

acuteoutbreaks.pngAs part of their GCSE studies, Year 10 students have been learning about the transmission of pathogens and how preventing the transmission of pathogens can reduce the chances of epidemics and pandemics. They have been learning about the different types of pathogen and are aware that both measles and influenza are caused by viruses which can be spread by a droplet infection through coughing and sneezing. The winter of 2019/20 has shown a spike, with 160 new acute respiratory outbreaks (68 confirmed as influenza) reported in the last 10 days.

To reduce the spread of the ‘Flu’, simple steps can be taken including the following:

  • Vaccination – Reports suggest that the current vaccination is well matched to the current strains of influenza in the UK.
  • Sneezing into a tissue and disposing of the tissue.
  • Sneezing into the elbow rather than the hands if no tissue is available, prevents the virus being spread on to surfaces touched by the patient.
  • Washing hands thoroughly.

Mr D Knee

S.T.E.M. Robotics

In S.T.E.M club, we have been looking at the fascinating world of robotics! As part of the ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers Challenge’, we have been provided with 2 programmable LEGO robots. The students need to programme their robot to perform a number of different tasks. These tasks vary from a speed and control challenge to a dance off!

We have 2 teams competing and they have to be able to work independently.  The robots are able to perform many tasks and have many motors and arms that can be added or built. They also include ultrasonic, infrared and colour sensors so you can programme your robot to stop when it sees red.

This year’s competition is centred around climate change and cleaning up our environment. In particular, one very challenging aspect of this is that the robot must collect a piece of rubbish from one part of the map, bring it back and place it up the ramp into the recycling machine. This involves coordinating multiple motors and sensors to enable the robot to complete the challenges. Good luck, girls!

stemrobotics.png

Mr Dean

Revision Models

To help Year 11 with their recall of A01 they have been using sweets to model the nervous system and the structure of DNA.

For the topic of homeostasis, students have to learn about the nervous system.  They were shown an animation, given a diagram and then time to memorise the structures. They had to select the sweets that they felt best represented the different components of the nervous system. They then had to model it and label it. They were then given different exam style questions.

They also had to do this to model the structure of DNA. This is to help them understand that DNA is made of two strands and is twisted to form a double helix. Again, they were given exam questions to answer on this.

 Mrs Cahill

Reproducibility Crisis

The journals ‘Science’ and ‘Nature’ have long been held in great esteem.  Scientists strove to publish their science research work in these reputable journals.  However, in recent years, these journals have fallen out of favour because of a ‘reproducibility crisis’.

Scientific claims from new research published in journals must now be peer reviewed by other scientists who are experts in that area of science.

Scientists check that the research published is repeatable and reproducible.

Data is repeatable if the original experimenter repeats the research using the same method and equipment and obtains the same results.

Data is reproducible if the research is repeated by other scientists and the same results are obtained.

On the 3rd January 2020, BBC news reported that a Nobel Prize-winning scientist had to retract a paper published in ‘Science’ in May 2019 because the results of her research were found not to be reproducible and data was missing from lab notebooks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50989423

‘Nature’ in 2017 expressed concern about results that couldn’t be reproduced, citing a survey that 2/3 of other scientists had failed to reproduce another scientists’ experiment.

‘Nature’ however, does seem to be being proactive in tackling the ‘reproducibility crisis’ and have introduced a reproducibility checklist for submitting authors, designed to improve reliability and rigour.  Hopefully other journals will follow this example and then the scientific community can start again to have trust and belief in what they read.

Mrs Goodwill

How do we see colour?

colourscience.png

Year 11 Physics students have been looking into visible light and colour. Objects appear coloured because of the way they reflect light. Sunlight is a mixture of all wavelengths of light and combine to form brilliant white light. Year 11 have spent time using a glass prism to disperse white light and show all the different wavelengths of coloured light.

Do you know the colours in a rainbow? Can you remember them using this rhyme – Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain?

Some surfaces reflect all of the light, while others absorb (take in) some wavelengths.

The black ball appears black because it absorbs all of the wavelengths. The white ball appears white as it reflects all of the wavelengths and the red ball absorbs all the wavelengths except red so it appears red.

Question: What is a perfect blackbody?

Mrs Honeyman
Curriculum Leader for Science

Top of the Bench Competition

On Saturday 11th of January, a team of four from Penwortham Girls’ competed in the Royal Society of Chemistry “Top of the Bench” competition regional heats. The aim of this is to find the most gifted young chemists in the country.

The PGHS team, made up of one Year 11, one Year 10 and two Year 9s, took part in a practical competition as well as a written test. They then used electrolysis to produce the fuel for rockets and launched them across the lab. This was a great opportunity for students to work in a new university chemistry lab and broaden their knowledge beyond the normal curriculum.

Unfortunately we didn’t make it through to national finals this year but the girls represented the school brilliantly and are a credit to the school. Well done, Sarah, Evie, Abby and Mya.

Mr Coogan

PGHS puts Mental Health First

mhfacourse.pngCongratulations to Miss Wignall and Mrs Byard who were both successful in becoming qualified Mental Health First Aiders earlier this month at a course in Liverpool. They join an ever-expanding team of staff who have undergone intensive training in how to identify signs and symptoms, as well as support students with their emotional health and wellbeing.mentalhealthfirstaidstaff.jpg

The Mental Health First Aiders team consists of:

Mr Ramsdale (Senior Assistant Headteacher)
Mrs Walker (Pastoral Support Worker & Haven Manager)
Mrs Ibrahim (Pupil Premium Champion)
Mrs Cahill (Community Studies Coordinator)
Mrs Davda (Teaching Assistant)

All our staff have taken part in regular training in how to support students with their emotional health and wellbeing and our pastoral team have considerable experience and expertise in helping girls when they need it. In fact, PGHS is currently seeking external recognition of all the work done in this area and we hope to secure the Leeds Becket University School Mental Health Award later this year.

If you would like any further information about our work in this area, or if you have any concerns about your daughter’s emotional health and wellbeing, then please get in touch with your daughter’s Raising Achievement Coordinator. Our website also contains helpful information and further signposting:

http://www.penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk/supporting-your-daughter/5061953.html

Mr Ramsdale

Senior Assistant Headteacher

Former PGHS Alumnae Pupil Dame Sue Ion Receives Prestigious Honour

damesueion.jpgA member of the University of Central Lancashire’s Board of Governors has joined the list of esteemed physicists to have received the highest honour that the Institute of Physics (IOP) can bestow.

Dame Sue Ion has been conferred with an Honorary Fellowship by the IOP for her internationally recognised expertise in energy and energy policy and tireless advocacy of the safe and efficient use of nuclear power for a better world.

Sue joins the list of Honorary Fellows that includes Professor Stephen Hawking, Professor Peter Higgs and Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell.

Prestonian Sue was educated at Penwortham Girls Grammar School and now lives in Leyland.

In addition to her role on the UCLan Board, Dame Sue Ion is a British engineer and an expert advisor on the nuclear power industry. She represents the UK on the world stage, as well as helping to shape long-term energy strategy at home.

Article by Blog Preston

Christmas Celebration Concert

Christmasconcert1.jpgOn Wednesday 18th December, Penwortham Girls’ presented a Christmas Celebration which was a tremendous success and ensured everyone was in the mood for the festive season. Our talented dancers ensured the audience was fully entertained with sky-scraping cheer routines and rock ‘n’ roll choreography that had us all moving to the music. Our actresses’ superb interpretation of ‘The Grinch’ left us in no doubt that the true meaning of Christmas ‘doesn’t come from a store’ and that ‘perhaps it does mean a little bit more’, whilst our fantastic musicians entertained us with a number of Christmas classics. Special mention must go to: Emma B, Isla W, Anna K, Isabel C, Bridget C and Ella H for entertaining us with their amazing duets and solos. As I am sure you will agree, the evening was not only a celebration of Christmas but a celebration of the talents that our girls possess. Well done to everyone involved. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to send your thanks and best wishes to staff on the evening. It really is appreciated. We look forward to seeing you all at our events this year.

Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher

 

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • UNICEF
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award