Year 8 Practical Planning

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

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

The Importance of a balanced diet

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

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!

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

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

Safari Phil Animal Adventures Visits Year 9 Students

Year 9 students had an unforgettable experience when Safari Phil and Spikey Dave 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 Mexican red-knee tarantula, 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 apologise to any parents who may now find themselves fielding requests for vivarium’s and reptiles for Christmas!

Mr D Knee

Science Department

Year 7 Students Explore the Universe at the Mobile Planetarium During STEM Festival

As part of this year’s STEM Festival, Year 7 students had the exciting opportunity to embark on an incredible journey through the stars with a visit to a mobile planetarium. The immersive experience allowed the students to learn about the fascinating composition of stars and how the elements that make up everything (including themselves), were originally formed in the cores of distant stars across the universe.

The students also gained a deeper understanding of the vast size and scale of the universe, which left many of them in awe. Throughout the session, the girls actively engaged with the knowledgeable presenter, Dave, asking insightful questions and further expanding their curiosity about the cosmos.

This hands-on experience was a highlight of the STEM Festival, sparking a sense of wonder and discovery among the Year 7 students.

Mr D Knee

Science Department

Chemical Cookery

Chemical Cookery: Year 9 Take Science into the Kitchen.

Who says science can’t be delicious? Year 9 students recently stepped outside their usual curriculum to dive into the fascinating world of molecular gastronomy, where chemistry and cooking collide! Their challenge? To create a dish that looked like a classic plate of spaghetti and meatballs, but with a surprising twist. Instead of pasta and meat, students made white chocolate spaghetti and raspberry ‘meatballs’ using cutting-edge techniques and a dash of chemical magic!

Using ingredients like sodium alginate, calcium lactate and agar agar, students explored how science can transform textures and states of matter. The experience introduced them to spherification, a process that turns liquids into delicate, jelly-like spheres, and gelification, which allowed them to turn white chocolate into noodle-like strands.

The kitchen turned into a laboratory as students experimented with different methods to perfect their dishes. Some struggled with getting the right consistency for their raspberry spheres, while others found the spaghetti strands to be trickier than expected. However, through teamwork and problem-solving, they all managed to plate up a unique and tasty creation!

“It was so cool to see how science could change food in such unexpected ways,” said one Year 9 student. “I never thought I’d be making spaghetti out of chocolate, but now I kind of want to try making other weird food experiments at home!”

The Chemical Cookery session was a brilliant opportunity for students to develop their practical skills, creativity and understanding of food science. It’s safe to say that the world of cooking will never look the same again for these young scientists!

Who knows, maybe we have some future molecular gastronomists in our midst? Next time, we might just see exploding desserts or edible foams on the menu!  Watch this space!

Mr Dean

Science Department

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • FFT National Attendance Award
  • Behaviour Quality Mark
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • FFT National Attendance Award
  • Behaviour Quality Mark