Coco and Tadeus have only just started their Charterhouse journey and are already hooked on science!
Tell us about yourself
Coco (Year 9) I have been at Charterhouse for four months, and as soon as I started in September as a Fourth, or as most people would know it, Year 9, I was gripped by the opportunities Charterhouse has to offer and the infinite amount of help wherever you go. As a Year 9, we have the opportunity to represent the School in Sport, Academics and the Arts in every way possible, with every Fourth girl given the respect and freedom to try everything and anything with confidence, determination and an open mind. As an academic scholar, I am interested in all subjects; however, I have always had a specific interest in science, as I have often wondered why something just is, and well, science is almost always the answer. The main reason I enjoy science so much is because I have never fully understood how the universe works, and what I find is crazy that everything around us is science – it's just so hard to get your head around.
Tadeus (Year 9) I have been at Charterhouse for just over five months, and I’ve loved every bit of it. I am in the Fourth Form (Year 9) in Gownboys, and I am an academic scholar. Before coming to this School, my least favourite subjects were the sciences. Despite having pretty good grades overall, my science test scores were consistently lower than those is my other subjects. I didn’t enjoy the lessons and found the work to be tedious. That was until coming to Charterhouse. Recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that two of my three favourite subjects are Physics and Chemistry. This is almost entirely down to the opportunities to discover and learn about Science that Charterhouse presents to each and every pupil. From its beautifully designed labs, which are perfect for any practical, to the very high teaching quality from all the teachers, which makes it easy to learn. This has really triggered my interest in Science, and I am very lucky to be able to pursue my learning of Science at a School with so much to offer.
What makes Science at Charterhouse special?
Coco Science at Charterhouse is very special because the teachers don’t just stick to teaching the curriculum all the time, and that is why I love it so much. If you are in a lesson and you ask a question that is slightly off-topic but still reasonable, every teacher is always willing to help you understand, not just teach what you need to know. Lastly, I find that Science at Charterhouse is easy to learn and fun as well, thanks to the teachers and the facilities we have here. This is really important because there is no point teaching a subject if your pupils aren’t interested, as they will not put as much effort in as they might in areas like Sport or Art. Therefore, what I am trying to say is that Science at Charterhouse is special because teachers will go out of their way to help you understand by using methods that make it easier for you, and the facilities allow us to do experiments in the same labs that research scientists would use.
Tadeus The opportunities at Charterhouse are phenomenal. Physically speaking, the Science classrooms and labs have everything you could ever need, and the number of science competitions, workshops, lectures and clinics is truly a wonderfully useful thing.
Describe a single moment related to Science at Charterhouse which had a really positive impact on you.
Coco One moment I had in Science was during one of my first early lessons at Charterhouse, and it truly has had me gripped ever since. We were learning about different types of atom structures, bonding and how an atom works in general. My teacher, Mr Kane, was explaining how covalent bonds work, and I was sitting in my chair thinking about atomic bombs – I mean, it's got ‘atom’ in the name, and I knew that it had something to do with atom structures. So I asked, and then we spent the next 20 minutes talking about how nuclear elements react, why atomic bombs are so dangerous and how they are created. Yes, this was not going to be on the end-of-year exam, but once that lesson ended, I soon realised that this was the School for me – a School that would always help pupils understand, not just learn, and that would support you in any way and on any path that you were interested in.
Tadeus Lesson experiences with my Chemistry teacher, Mr Kane, are particularly helpful for learning and are fun at the same time. He teaches in ways that are unorthodox but excellent for understanding principles and recalling facts. For example, he demonstrates how bond forces and attraction work using balls and two or more pupils.
What advice would you give to a pupil at Charterhouse who loves studying Science?
Coco The advice that I would give to a pupil who loves to study Science at Charterhouse is to keep loving what you love, as Science is a very big topic with many different parts to it. If you don’t like Physics, that’s okay – maybe Chemistry is for you. But never think that you need to stop studying or not pay attention, because science is such a broad topic, and in every lesson, I always learn something new.
Tadeus Any pupil who wishes to pursue Science at Charterhouse has a world of opportunities ahead of them that they could harness, and I would encourage every pupil to take part in science-related activities at the School. You will truly enjoy them, and they are great for learning.
What advice would you give to a pupil at Charterhouse who finds Science challenging?
Coco The advice I would give is to try exploring different parts of Science, as the subject is literally the size of the universe, and just wait until you get to the topic that interests you. I would also suggest talking to your teacher after a lesson, as they are always willing to explain something to you and help you understand. Lastly, if you find that doesn’t work, there are always different science clinics in the mornings and afternoons that you can visit for half an hour or so. You are never the only one who doesn’t understand – there is always someone who is either in the same position as you or has been in it, so talk to someone one about it and find what you love.
Tadeus At any point, Charterhouse teachers are there to help you. They will happily schedule you in for a free slot if you want private coaching on how to improve in Science.
Link to STEM & Sustainability Week
