April 2025 - Penwortham Girls' High School

Rhetoric

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

In Year 9 English, we have been learning about rhetoric in speeches. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. The three pillars of rhetoric are pathos, logos and ethos. These are said to be the heart and soul of a good speech. We have studied Malala Yousafzai’s ‘Education is the Only Solution’, Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, Nelson Mandela’s speech ‘An Ideal for which I am Prepared to Die’ and Emmeline Pankhurst’s ‘We are here in our Efforts to become Law Makers’.

It is said that to make a great speech it must include the Aristotelian triad pathos, logos and ethos. Pathos is used to evoke or encourage a particular emotion in your reader. Logos is logical proof to back up your point and finally, ethos is credibility to show what extent you are trustworthy and how knowledgeable you are on your speech.

We have now moved on to creating speeches talking about important world issues such as deforestation, wellbeing and university fees using these forms we have learnt.

Maayana C, Year 9 Press Gang

Year 8 Practical Planning

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

This week in the Science Department, some of our Year 8 students impressed us as they tackled a classic chemistry challenge: separating a mixture of sand and salt. Year 8 are currently learning about atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures and have looked at various separating techniques. One of our aims at PGHS is for the girls to be independent so they were given access to a wide range of lab equipment and, with minimal guidance, were asked to plan and carry out their practical. Tasked with designing and carrying out the practical themselves, the students showed creativity, teamwork and impressive scientific thinking. From planning their methods to selecting appropriate equipment and adapting where necessary, each group approached the task with enthusiasm and a keen sense of inquiry. Using filtration, evaporation and a good deal of patience, the girls successfully separated the sand from the salt, learning not just about physical separation techniques but also about the scientific process itself. It was fantastic to see them discussing ideas, refining their methods and problem-solving in real time. We focused on the importance of the proper use of equipment to ensure a high purity of product. This process of planning a suitable method, as well as hopefully being an enjoyable lesson, is developing a key skill that the students will need for their GCSEs, as well as in A-levels, degree and scientific careers if they choose to pursue one.

Mr Coogan

Science Department

‘Step into the NHS’ competition

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

Last term, all students in Year 7 took part in the ‘Step into the NHS’ competition.

The ‘Step into the NHS’ competition, empowers students to explore the diverse career opportunities within the NHS. Through this competition, young minds are encouraged to envision themselves as integral parts of the healthcare system, fostering a sense of purpose and inspiration for their future endeavours.

For the competition, students were asked to research a variety of careers within the NHS, pick a job which appeals to them and then create a job description and a job advert to promote their chosen career in a creative and original way.

The judges of the competition will select ten regional winners who will each win a £25 Amazon voucher. These regional winners will then have the opportunity to pitch their work virtually to a panel of judges, who will crown the national winner who will win a £50 Amazon voucher.

The best entries have been picked from each class to submit to the judges of the competition. Here are a few of our chosen entries; pathologist poser, paediatrician wooden jigsaw, dentist claw machine, accountant Ferris wheel and a paramedic wearable ambulance. We will find out later in the year if we have any regional or national winners. Wait for our update!

Good luck, everyone!

Mrs Harrison

Science Department

Educake Leaderboard

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

Here is last month’s Educake leaderboard. Well done to everyone! All the students featured on the leaderboard have been rewarded with a heads breakfast.

Mrs Harrison

Science Teacher

The Importance of a balanced diet

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

Year 8 students have been learning about the digestive system and the importance of the maintaining a balanced diet. The students have learned about deficiency diseases including anaemia, scurvy and rickets. Producing nutritious foods that can compliment a balanced diet is becoming increasingly difficult as the global population continues to grow. Lab grown foods are a possible solution to meet these increasing demands and for the first time, a European Space Agency (ESA) project is assessing the viability of growing so-called lab-grown food in the low gravity and higher radiation in orbit.

Steak, mashed potatoes and deserts for astronauts could soon be grown from individual cells in space if experiments launched into orbit recently is successful.

Mr Knee

Science Department

Understanding Global Warming and Climate Change

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

Year 9s studying Earth 2 are learning how human activity is changing our planet.

Have you noticed hotter summers, stronger storms or milder winters? That’s not just weather, it’s climate change in action. One of the main causes is global warming.

Global warming is the rise in Earth’s average temperature. Since the late 1800s, it has increased by about 1.6°C. That may not seem like much but even small changes affect weather, oceans, animals and crops. This happens because of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and mostly come from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy, transport and industry.

Climate change means long-term shifts in climate patterns such as changes in temperature, rainfall and storms. While Earth’s climate has always changed, today’s changes are faster and largely caused by human actions.

Climate change affects everyone and everything. Animals lose their habitats as ice melts or forests are destroyed by wildfires. Farmers face challenges growing food due to floods and droughts. People around the world face extreme weather events, rising sea levels and damaged communities. Oceans are heating up, harming marine life and coral reefs.

You can help by making small, everyday choices. Try walking or biking instead of using a car. Turn off lights and devices when you’re not using them. Recycle, reduce waste and look for ways to use less. Even eating less meat such as having one vegetarian meal a week can make a difference.

Earth is our only home. The choices we make now shape the future for everyone. Climate change is a big challenge but your actions can make a big difference.

Mrs Goodwill

Science Department

Science Club Update – The Rise of the Egg-o-nauts!

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

The Science Club has had a fantastic few weeks, and it’s been wonderful to see a rise in new members joining us — a real sign of growing enthusiasm for science across the school.

Students have been getting hands-on with some fun and fizzy experiments, including making their own slime and bath bombs. The creativity and curiosity they’ve brought to each session has been amazing to see.

But the real buzz at the moment? Our upcoming Egg-o-nauts competition! Inspired by recent news stories celebrating women in space and the cutting-edge design of space capsules, students are now hard at work designing their own protective pods for a very precious passenger — a raw egg! The challenge? To create a capsule that can survive a drop from a height without cracking its cargo.

The designs so far have been incredibly inventive, with students bringing in a brilliant range of materials and ideas. From cushioning systems to aerodynamic shapes, the thought and science behind each one has been genuinely impressive. It’s particularly fantastic to see so many girls getting stuck in, showing brilliant flair for engineering and problem-solving — a true celebration of women in STEM!

The big test day will take place soon and we can’t wait to see whose egg survives the fall. Watch this space for photos and winners!

Well done to all our budding scientists. Keep reaching for the stars!

Mrs R Cahill

Science Department

From Producers to Predators: Year 9 Dives into Ecosystems and Bioaccumulation

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by Michelle Murray

This past term, our Year 9 students took a deep dive into the fascinating world of ‘ecosystems’ and experienced first-hand how energy and substances move through food chains.

Students explored the relationships between producers (like plants and algae) and consumers (such as small fish and large predators) in a hands-on, interactive activity. Rather than just reading from a textbook, students became the food web! Each student took on the role of an organism, ranging from tiny phytoplankton all the way to the mighty shark and moved around the classroom to ‘feed’ on their prey.

But this wasn’t just a game of tag. The twist? Pesticides.

To simulate bioaccumulation, small tokens representing pesticides were passed along as students ‘ate’ one another in the food chain. At first, only a few producers carried pesticides but as the simulation continued, something powerful happened; those toxins built up. By the time the shark had finished its ‘meal’, it had collected all the pesticide tokens.

This demonstration showed students how toxins in an ecosystem, like mercury or pesticides accumulate more and more at each level of the food chain, especially in top predators. This real-world phenomenon, known as bioaccumulation, is a crucial concept in understanding environmental science and the impact of human activity on wildlife and our planet.

By actively participating in this simulation, students gained a deeper, more memorable understanding of how ecosystems work and why environmental responsibility is so important.

Mr Dean

Science Department

A Once in a Lifetime Adventure: Kenya 2025

Posted on April 28, 2025October 13, 2025 by Michelle Murray

Sixteen of our incredible Year 10 students have just returned from the adventure of a lifetime – an unforgettable 10 day expedition to Kenya with ‘African Adventures’. Our journey began in the early hours of the morning, with a 1.30am meet at school before flying from Manchester to Nairobi via Paris. Tired but buzzing with excitement, we arrived in Kenya’s vibrant capital, ready for what would become a truly life-changing experience.

We kicked things off with a visit to Nairobi National Park, where the city skyline forms the surreal backdrop to wild lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, buffalo, impalas and more. We also visited the David Sheldrick Elephant Sanctuary, meeting rescued orphaned elephants and learning about the inspiring work being done to protect Kenya’s wildlife. Did you know that an elephant’s skin is actually quite prickly?

It was in Nakuru, during our five days volunteering at Ungana Academy, that hearts were truly touched. Our students threw themselves into every moment, teaching in classrooms, running lively sports sessions and even tiling an entire classroom from scratch! They bonded deeply with the pupils and staff, creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Our group didn’t just bring their time and energy, they brought generosity and compassion too. Thanks to the kindness of our wider community, we delivered vital donations including toothbrushes, crafts, stationary and sanitary products. In a particularly special moment, our students led a ‘Period Power’ lesson for girls in Grades 4 to 6, helping to break taboos and empower young women with knowledge and confidence. We were also thrilled to donate two projectors and photocopiers to support learning at Ungana Academy made possible by the amazing contributions of our sponsors.

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our sponsors listed below for making a real and lasting difference…and that’s not all…thanks to the incredible generosity of Penwortham AFC, Ungana Academy now has a full home and away football kit! The students were absolutely thrilled and it’s safe to say those kits will be worn with pride.

After a breathtaking visit to Meningai Crater, we spent a morning in a traditional Maasai village, learning about their culture and way of life. Then it was on to a truly unforgettable two-day safari in the Maasai Mara, where we saw elephants, lions, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, crocodiles, giraffes and even cheetahs in the wild! The students’ sense of wonder was unforgettable. We wrapped up with a fabulous visit to the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, before boarding our flight home via Amsterdam – tired, emotional, and forever changed.

This was more than a school trip. It was an experience that opened eyes, challenged hearts and inspired futures. We couldn’t be more proud of how our students conducted themselves, with kindness, resilience and an eagerness to learn from every moment.

Huge thank you to our sponsors:

Penwortham AFC
Urban Kitchens
Flue Direct Ltd
Embroidery Unit
Roberts & Co Estate Agents
Peter Booth Opticians
Ref Stuff www.refscorer.com
CBC Comprehensive Building Consultancy
NWES
Riddell tps
Store IT
MenoTribe
Rap conveyors
Interbelt
Kerrigan Ltd
Braymale
vulcanconveyors
…and all the families, friends and supporters who donated and cheered us on from afar.

Asante Sana! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Mrs Honeyman

Associate Assistant Headteacher

Helmshore Textile Museum

Posted on April 4, 2025March 25, 2025 by Michelle Murray

This term, the History Department took Year 8 students out for a day visit to Helmshore Textile Museum in Rossendale. This is an unrivalled opportunity to learn first-hand about the living and working conditions of Lancashire textiles workers during the late 18^th and 19^th centuries. The mill contains the last remaining water frame in the world (made c.1770) and the girls get a rare glimpse of machines like the spinning mule in action. 200 years ago, Lancashire was the equivalent of Silicon Valley, a centre of technological and scientific innovation, and the keystone of what was then known as the Workshop of the World; Great Britain. Cotton cloth from Lancashire was sold, exported and worn all over the world, and there were about 80 mills in Preston alone, employing thousands of workers.

Helmshore Mill was part of a larger complex of mills built on the banks of the River Ogden, which today is a delightful nature corridor. Back then, it was a stinking open sewer, and the workers’ cottages backed directly on to it. As part of the day, the girls are taken on a fascinating walking tour of the village of Helmshore, which was largely built by the Turner family. This includes a school, a church, back-to-back houses and a pub.

The girls were intrigued to learn about the story of Mary Hindle, a local lady who was unfairly found guilty of taking part in a riot, in which handloom weavers protested against the new weaving machines at Turner’s mill by smashing them all. She was sentenced to be transported by sea to Australia, which was far from a holiday destination two hundred years ago. The girls also learned about the ‘tommy shop’. The workers were paid with special tokens that could only be spent in the tommy shop. Guess who owned it… yes, it was William Turner and so all the profits went back to him! It was this exploitative system that fuelled the creation of the Cooperative movement in the mid-19th century, which continues today as the Coop.

As ever, the girls were a credit to the school, and the museum staff made a point of telling us that PGHS is considered to be one of the best school’s to work with because of the enthusiasm of both the students and the staff.

Mr Ramsdale

Senior Assistant Headteacher