STEM Achievers

Four of our year 10 pupils, Athrv S, Tyriq H, Amelia P and Layla H, have all worked very hard this academic year on an IRIS (Institute for Research In Schools) project.

Athrv and Tyriq worked together on a project called ‘Big Data: ATLAS’, whereby they used coding and analytical methods used by particle physicists. They interpreted ATLAS Open Data from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider to evidence the Higgs boson. They formulated their own questions independently using Python computer programming.

Amelia and Layla worked together on a project called ‘Wild Things’. This project involved exploring biodiversity in the school garden to contribute to scientists’ understanding of how to better conserve local biodiversity and ensure that wildlife thrives through habitat restoration and sustainable management. Amelia and Layla focussed on bumble bees and the plants they favour the most when visiting them for nectar.

All four pupils met on a weekly basis during session 6 to research, gather data and analyse their project findings. They have gained a wide range of invaluable skills including analytical, independent and presentation skills, among many more!

To celebrate their project completion, we took a trip to Exeter to attend a conference run by IRIS. Pupils from across the UK attended the conference to showcase their projects and listen to very interesting talks about careers from a range of STEM professionals.

Athrv, Tyriq, Amelia and Layla did an excellent job of presenting their project posters to pupils and staff from many different schools. This took a lot of bravery and confidence and they did themselves proud. Each pupil will be awarded with a certificate from IRIS to congratulate them on their hard work and project findings.

In addition to this, completing an IRIS project has enabled Athrv, Tyriq, Amelia and Layla to work towards and achieve their Leadership Challenge Award with Villiers Park. Well done to all four of you, you have worked extremely hard this academic year and I have been very impressed by the enthusiasm and determination you have shown for your individual projects.