STEM Archives - Penwortham Girls' High School

Celebrating Year 9 Engineering Success!

Posted on June 16, 2025July 17, 2025 by Michelle Murray

This year, our Year 9 students took part in the Primary Engineer Leaders Award—an exciting national STEM challenge that invites young people across the UK to answer the question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” The competition encourages students to identify real-world problems and design creative, innovative solutions, helping them to develop vital skills in problem-solving, design, and communication.

We are delighted to share the fantastic results from our Year 9 cohort: 33 Pass, 57 Merit, 22 Distinction and 13 Distinction Shortlisted.

The Distinction Shortlisted entries are especially noteworthy. These outstanding designs advanced to the final round of judging, where they were reviewed by VIPs from the engineering world — an incredible achievement in itself.

We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our Distinction Shortlisted students, Lily H and Elizabeth M, have been highly commended for their exceptional entries, an accolade awarded to just two students in their age group across the whole of Lancashire. As recognition of their achievement, Lily and Elizabeth have been invited to attend an awards ceremony, where they will receive certificates celebrating their success.

This competition has given our students a unique opportunity to think like engineers and engage with the real challenges and possibilities within STEM.

Mrs Goodwill

Science Department

Safari Phil Animal Adventures Visits Year 9 Students

Posted on April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 by Michelle Murray

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

Posted on April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 by Michelle Murray

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

STEM Careers Carousel Sparks Inspiration at PGHS

Posted on April 1, 2025April 1, 2025 by Michelle Murray

On March 7th, 2025, Penwortham Girls High School hosted its highly anticipated annual Careers Carousel as part of the school’s STEM festival. This exciting event provided Year 9 and Year 10 students with a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of STEM careers and gain valuable insights from professionals in various fields.

Over 30 experts from different STEM sectors generously volunteered their time to share their knowledge and experiences, sparking curiosity and ambition in our students. The carousel featured dynamic sessions, allowing students to rotate through different STEM disciplines. From the world of engineering and organometallic chemistry to the innovative field of microbiology and forensics, students discovered the vast array of career paths available to them. They also explored the important role of mathematics in accountancy and finance and learned about the opportunities in higher education. Students were also given an insight into the career opportunities in construction, pharmacy, the nuclear industry, local Government, the armed forces and police, as well as the diverse opportunities within the NHS.

Feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how eye-opening and inspiring the experience was. Several have shared that they are now reconsidering their career options, armed with new insights and a deeper understanding of the exciting prospects in STEM.

The success of the Careers Carousel would not have been possible without the dedication of our STEM Ambassadors. These professionals selflessly contributed their time and expertise, igniting a passion for STEM in our students. Their commitment to shaping the next generation of leaders has left a lasting impact, empowering students to dream big and aim high.

We extend our sincere thanks to all the STEM Ambassadors who made this event such a success. Their contributions have not only inspired our students but have also played a pivotal role in helping them envision a future full of potential. We are incredibly grateful for all the support given and look forward to seeing how our students use this newfound inspiration to pursue their dreams in the world of STEM.

Mr D Knee

Science Department

Educake Leaderboard

Posted on February 27, 2025February 27, 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 Head’s breakfast.

Mrs Harrison

Science Department

PGHS Stem Festival

Posted on February 27, 2025February 27, 2025 by Michelle Murray

24th February – 7th March 2025

We are all excited for our annual PGHS STEM festival fortnight beginning on the 24th February. With 75% of the fastest growing careers being STEM related and only 16% of STEM career professionals being female, we aim to produce an extravaganza of events that endeavour to intrigue and inspire our girls to consider Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as a future career path.

The Science department will be hosting a variety of events –

Year 7 students will be researching careers within the NHS and will create a job advertisement that will be submitted to the national ‘Step into the NHS’ competition. Students will also get to experience the mystery of distance galaxies and constellations with a visit from a mobile planetarium.

Year 9 Students will be treated to develop their culinary skills with Chemical Cookery. They will be pitching their engineering ideas by submitting an entry to the national competition, “If you were an engineer what would you do?”. Year 9 students will also have the opportunity to learn about a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates when we welcome Safari Phil’s Animal Adventures.

Year 10 and 11 students will have the opportunity to meet with professionals working within a wide range of STEM related industries during our STEM careers carousel, learning more about the opportunities STEM provides. Our STEM ambassadors are kindly giving up their time to give advice about working within STEM and the different career paths within STEM industries.

Mr Knee

Science Department

STEM Careers Carousel, Wednesday 7th March 2025

Posted on December 16, 2024January 7, 2025 by Michelle Murray

The annual Penwortham Girls’ High School STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Festival is scheduled to be held between Monday 24th February to Friday 7th March 2025. The aim of the festival is to raise awareness of STEM subjects and the fantastic opportunities that future careers related to STEM subjects offer. With girls and women being underrepresented within STEM subjects in further/higher education courses and related careers, we hope that by raising the profile of STEM, more of our girls will consider such learning/career pathways.

Meeting people currently working within STEM-related careers would help our students to see the opportunities that are available to them in careers that they may not have considered before. The STEM careers carousel will take the form of a careers fair and we are hoping to bring representatives working within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to meet with our Year 10 and 11 students to provide information, relay their experiences and advice about following similar career paths.

We are looking to find more representatives who work within STEM-related industries who could kindly volunteer their time to share their experiences with our students on Friday 7th March 2025 between 10am and 3.30pm. If you are working within this industry or have any contacts within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths related careers and you could volunteer to take part in the event, please contact Mr D. Knee at d.knee@penworthamgirls.lancs.sch.uk.

Thank you for your support.

Mr Knee

Teacher of Science

STEM Careers Carousel Inspires PGHS Students to Explore Boundless Opportunities

Posted on March 28, 2024January 7, 2025 by Michelle Murray

On the 29th of February 2024, Penwortham Girls’ High School annual Careers Carousel unfolded as a pivotal event during our STEM Festival, illuminating pathways to future success for our Year 10 and Year 11 students. Over 20 dedicated professionals from diverse STEM fields graciously volunteered their time to share insights and expertise, igniting a spark of curiosity and ambition in our students.

The carousel offered a dynamic rotation through various STEM sectors, allowing students to gain first-hand knowledge from industry experts. From engineering marvels to the intricate world of organometallic chemistry, from the innovative realm of radiotherapy to the strategic domain of logistics, our students were exposed to a broad spectrum of STEM-related careers. Moreover, they delved into the profound impact of mathematics within the insurance industry, as well as the boundless opportunities within the higher education sector.

The feedback from our students was resoundingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the eye-opening experience. The insights gained during the carousel have prompted profound reflections on their future career paths. Indeed, many students are now re-evaluating their options, buoyed by a new found awareness of the diverse opportunities awaiting them in the world of STEM.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering dedication of our STEM Ambassadors, who generously shared their time, expertise and passion for their respective fields. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation of STEM leaders has left an indelible mark on our students, empowering them to envision a future brimming with possibilities.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our STEM Ambassadors for their invaluable contributions to the success of the Careers Carousel. Your selflessness and dedication have not only enlightened our students but have also inspired them to pursue their dreams with unwavering determination. We are deeply grateful for your efforts and the impact that you have made on our school community.

As we look to the future, we are filled with optimism and excitement, knowing that our students are equipped with the knowledge, inspiration and resilience to chart their own paths towards success in the vibrant world of STEM.

Mr D Knee

Teacher of Science

Many thanks to our STEM Ambassadors who supported the event:

Demi Jordan – Mace Group. International Consultancy and Construction Firm.

David Nuttall – Engineering Manager at Leyland Trucks.

Peter Fisher – Retired BOE Engineer and Retired naval Engineer

Jenna Hartnett – Pricing Analyst for Covea/Vitality Insurance.

Simon Bourne – Key Account Manager at TGW Logistics

Sarah Seaton – Project Director at School Rebuilding, Department of Education

Justin Rawcliffe – Project Director at School Rebuilding, Department of Education

Sergey Zlatogorsky – Chemistry Lecturer at University of Central Lancashire

Laura Littlefair – Northumbria University

Dr Peter Tipping – Engineer, LC Auxetec

Chandni Asher-Vardey – Network Rail

Iain Scott Ferguson – Network Rail

Simon Close – ForexClear

Shelley Shuttleworth – Radiotherapy Practice Educator at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

Steven Rawlinson – SISK Building Contractors

Sharon Leary – Serconnect Ltd

Amanda Winter – Microbiologist and Technical Team Manager for BSI

Susan Jones – Social Value Manager at Mac Roofing

Nicola Parkinson – Head of People at Eric Wright Group

Michelle Faulkner – Facilities Manager at Eric Wright FM

Katheryn Wood – BAE Systems Head Office

STEM Festival Jam Tarts Competition

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by Michelle Murray

This week, Year 7 and Year 8 students entered Miss Scott’s STEM Festival Jam Tarts Competition. After learning about the science behind making the perfect shortcrust pastry, students were challenged to make 6 perfect jam tarts. The competition saw may students entering and the competition was very high. The judges were Mrs Hall, Miss Scott, Mrs Moss and Mrs Bennet. The quality of the jam tarts blew them away!

1st prize went to Evelyn B Y7

2nd prize went to Alice T Y7

3rd prize went to Evie S and Ella B Y7.

Prizes and certificates will he handed out in assembly next week.

Miss Scott

Lead Teacher of Food Preparation and Nutrition

Lancashire Farm Education Centre

Posted on March 4, 2024March 4, 2024 by Michelle Murray

This week, Year 9 and Year 10 students attended Lancashire Farm Education Centre in Croston to learn all about Intensive Farming.

PGHS students visited a working dairy farm and during the visit, students had the opportunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of food processing and production on an intensive dairy farm. The activities at the farm were developed around the school curriculum. There was a warm welcome at the farm from Farmer Elaine and her husband, Paul. Students had a tour of the farm, learning all about the cows, their diets, how they are looked after, how the farm is run and all the machinery they use, such as the milking robots and ‘Bob’ the silage feeder.

Students were then asked to go around the farm independently to answer all the questions on the quiz to see what they could remember. After lunch, students learnt about primary and secondary production and had a go at making their own butter – which was very yummy! Students also completed a ‘milking’ challenge, filling buckets with water from the rubber teats used to feed the calves. Elaine gave us a tour of the fields and students learnt about the importance of nature, soil and grass in food production.

All the students enjoyed themselves thoroughly, especially being able to stroke the calves! The trip was a great success, with everyone thoroughly involved in all aspects of the trip!

Miss Scott

Lead Teacher of Food Preparation and Nutrition