Year 9 students had an unforgettable experience when Safari Phil Animal Adventures brought their impressive collection of exotic animals to school. The visit, which left students both fascinated and slightly terrified, provided a hands-on learning opportunity that tied into their current studies on genes and evolution.

The diverse collection of animals included a blue-tongued skink, a royal python, a bearded dragon, tortoises, Madagascar hissing cockroaches,and African giant millipedes. As part of the session, students explored the fascinating adaptations and evolutionary histories of these creatures.

Many students embraced the chance to handle the animals and learn about how to properly care for exotic pets. We apologize to any parents who may now find themselves fielding requests for vivarium’s and reptiles for Christmas!

Science Department

Year 8 students recently enjoyed an exciting and educational visit to Blackpool Zoo, where they brought their KS3 Biology learning to life. Observing animals such as giraffes, lions, gorillas and penguins allowed students to see first-hand how species are adapted to survive in their environments.

The visit reinforced key topics including adaptations and natural selection. Students were fascinated by the giraffe’s long neck, enabling it to reach food high in trees and the lion’s powerful build, helping it to hunt effectively. Watching gorillas highlighted similarities to humans, while penguins demonstrated specialised adaptations for swimming and life in colder habitats.

Students also explored the importance of conservation, learning how zoos support endangered species through breeding programmes and habitat protection. Blackpool Zoo cares for over 1,000 animals, helping to promote biodiversity and raise awareness of global conservation efforts.

Science Department

In January, Year 7 students had the exciting opportunity to visit a mobile planetarium and take part in an immersive journey through space.

During the session, students discovered the fascinating life cycle of stars and learned how the elements that make up everything around us—including themselves—were formed within the hearts of distant stars. The experience also provided an engaging introduction to NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in the near future.

Throughout the visit, students enthusiastically engaged with the session, asking thoughtful and probing questions of the expert presenter, Dave and deepening their understanding of the universe.

The Science Department

All Year 8 students have had the exciting opportunity to explore how the magic of Harry Potter can be brought to life through Science.

Stepping into the role of young witches, students used their growing scientific knowledge to recreate some of the most famous spells from the Wizarding World.

One of the highlights of the lesson was creating their own “Lumos” effect. Students observed the brilliant white light produced when magnesium burns in oxygen, demonstrating a vivid example of an exothermic reaction; much like the spell used to light up a wand in the books.

Students also investigated flame tests, discovering how different metal ions produce distinctive flame colours.

The magic continued with potion-making, where students carried out a fascinating colour-changing reaction. By exploring the different oxidation states of manganese, they observed dramatic shifts in colour, bringing a touch of Hogwarts’ dungeon classrooms into our own science labs.

Throughout the lesson, students made connections between science and storytelling, strengthening both their scientific understanding and their appreciation of literature. To finish, they were challenged to step into the role of journalists for the Daily Prophet, writing their own creative articles to describe the “magical” experiments they had carried out. Here are a couple of articles written by Quinn M and Molly S.

It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity from all of Year 8. Experiences like this show how Science can spark imagination and bring learning to life in memorable ways.

Mrs Harrison

Science Teacher

Educake Leader Board for May 2026

Year 9 Get a Taste of Science in Chemical Cookery Session

Last week, all Year 9 students swapped their usual science classrooms for the Food Technology room as they took part in a unique Chemical Cookery workshop. The session was delivered by Mr Dean, an ex-chef with experience working alongside several well‑known celebrity chefs, including Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsey, who brought a flavour‑packed twist to understanding scientific principles.

Rather than learning from textbooks, students explored the chemistry of cooking by making – and tasting – their own creations. The focus of the session was the science and chemical reactions behind a classic favourite: jelly and ice cream.

Strawberry Spaghetti Jelly: The Power of Agar Agar

The first experiment involved turning a simple strawberry mixture into spaghetti‑shaped jelly strands. Instead of using traditional gelatine, students used Agar Agar, a plant‑based gelling agent extracted from seaweed. Mr Dean explained how Agar Agar sets at a higher temperature and forms a firmer texture, showing students the different ways chemicals behave in food preparation. Using syringes and cooling tubes, students transformed the liquid jelly mixture into long, noodle‑like strands; an eye‑opening demonstration of how chemistry can be both edible and fun.

Vanilla Ice Cream: Freezing Fast with Salt and Ice

Next, students learned how salt can be used to lower the freezing point of ice, speeding up the freezing process. By combining ice, salt and a sealed bag of vanilla mixture, they shook their way to homemade vanilla ice cream. As the mixture chilled rapidly, students discovered how endothermic reactions work and why adding salt makes ice melt faster while becoming cold enough to freeze their dessert at the same time.

A Delicious Blend of Learning

The session brought science to life in a memorable and hands‑on way. Students not only gained a deeper understanding of chemical reactions but also enjoyed eating the results of their hard work. Chemical Cookery proved to be a perfect blend of education and creativity, highlighting the surprising ways science shapes the foods we enjoy every day. Year 9 were also excellent in the sessions and demonstrated some excellent Science knowledge and behaviour! 

Mr Dean

Teacher of Science