In Earth 3 lessons, Year 9 have been finding out why Earth has seasons, how our planet moves around the Sun, and how its tilt affects temperature and daylight. They’ve also been exploring the Solar System, different types of stars and galaxies and the huge distances between objects in space. These distances are so large that scientists have to measure them in light years — the distance light travels in a year.

This learning links directly to what real scientists think about when planning space missions. NASA is working on an exciting project called the Artemis program. Its goal is to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. The mission will use the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built, to send the Orion spacecraft around the Moon. This will help test new technology and make sure astronauts can travel safely on future missions.

But Artemis isn’t only about visiting the Moon again; it’s the next step towards going even further. NASA hopes to use the Moon as a base for future missions, including sending people to Mars.

So… can we get to Mars?

Thanks to what Year 9 have been studying, they already know some of the challenges. Mars is about 225 million kilometres away from Earth and a trip there can take between six and nine months. Spacecraft have to follow curved paths, carry enough supplies for the whole journey and keep astronauts safe the entire time.

What makes this topic even more inspiring is that the space science students learn now (forces, gravity, motion and energy) is exactly the same science used by real astronauts and engineers. These ideas help rockets lift off the ground, allow spacecraft to travel millions of kilometres and make sure astronauts can move safely in space.

Some Year 9 students could one day design rockets, build robots for space missions, or even walk on the Moon or Mars. Space exploration needs creative thinkers, problem solvers and curious people – all the skills that students are already building in their lessons.

Who knows? The next big step into space might one day be taken by someone in your classroom!

Mrs Goodwill

Science Department

It’s been a fantastic start to the year in Science Club! We’ve welcomed some enthusiastic new members and it’s been lovely to see our returning students back again now helping out, sharing their knowledge, and continuing to explore their love of science.

This term, we’ve already carried out some colourful flame tests, watching elements come to life in vibrant bursts of red, green and blue. We’ve also been busy taking care of our growing population of stick insects, which has now reached an impressive 36! Some students have even taken them home to care for, learning about their needs and how to look after living things responsibly.

Next up, we’ll be getting into the spooky spirit of the season with some Halloween-themed chromatography and a heart dissection, perfect for those who enjoy science with a bit of a scare!

A special shout-out to Harper E-W our resident stick insect expert for her fantastic help with them and for her incredible patience while counting every single one of them! Also, to Caitie S, who continues to come along and share her wonderful scientific discoveries after many years. It’s always a pleasure to hear about her findings and see her enthusiasm for science still going strong.

Science Club continues to be a place for curiosity, creativity and a shared sense of wonder about the world around us. We can’t wait to see what our young scientists discover next!

Mrs R Cahill

Teacher of Science

The summer term Science Club has been one of our most exciting yet; full of squeaky pops, new life and some ‘egg-straordinary’ engineering.

One of the highlights was our Egg-o-nauts Challenge, where students were tasked with designing parachutes to safely land a raw egg from a height. There was a flurry of creative designs, last-minute tweaks and tense countdowns as each egg made its descent. While not every egg survived the drop, the enthusiasm was sky-high and we were thrilled to crown a winning team whose egg landed without even a crack!

We also had a flutter of life in the club this term. Our caterpillars made their transformation into butterflies (albeit sneakily over the half-term break). Luckily, we were able to see them in their winged form, observing them for a few days before releasing them into the wild on a beautifully sunny afternoon.

Meanwhile, our stick insects surprised us with five tiny new additions, much to the delight of our student carers, who have been keeping a close eye on their progress.

And what’s a Science Club without a bit of noise? Our students had a blast testing for hydrogen gas, competing to create the loudest “squeaky pop” in our classic gas tests. The competitive spirit was fierce and it was fantastic to see students predicting, experimenting and laughing as their test tubes popped away.

It’s been a brilliant term, full of hands-on science, team spirit and curiosity. We’re proud of all our budding scientists and can’t wait for more adventures next academic year!

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that one of our students, Lily S, has been named a winner in the prestigious Young Science Writer Award (YSWA), hosted by the Association of British Science Writers (ABSW).

This national competition challenges young people aged 14–16 to craft compelling, accurate and engaging articles on scientific topics they are passionate about. Lily’s entry stood out for its clarity, creativity and excellent communication of a complex scientific idea. The essay title was ‘My brain is trying to starve me: The neuroscience behind Anorexia Nervosa’.

The YSWA is judged by leading science journalists and writers, making Lily’s win a remarkable achievement and a testament to her writing skills and enthusiasm for science. Her article will be published on the ABSW website, helping to inspire other young people to see science not just as a subject, but as a story worth telling.

We are incredibly proud of Lily and hope her success encourages more students to explore the world of science communication.

Congratulations, Lily!

Mrs Honeyman

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Science