On Saturday 10 May, pupils holding offers to join Charterhouse in 2027 visited the School to take part in workshops. In the Science Faculty, this involved working alongside our Year 12 pupils in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics practicals.
The experiments ranged from using titration to determine the heat energy released in a neutralisation reaction, to dissecting owl pellets, and even designing their own paper helicopters.
Some of our Year 12 pupils, who generously gave up their time to support the workshops and inspire others with the excitement of science, shared their reflections on the day:
Gemma:
I was involved in supporting small groups of Year 6 pupils as they carried out a neutralisation experiment and measured the temperature change during the reaction. I guided them through the scientific method, as well as explained the key concepts of neutralisation reactions in an engaging way. I also encouraged the pupils to make observations and draw conclusions from their results on the temperature changes they measured.
It was rewarding to see how enthusiastic and curious they were, and how much they enjoyed the hands-on experience using new equipment, like a burette, that they had never seen before.
I developed my own communication and leadership skills through the process and found it really fulfilling to share my enthusiasm for science, and hopefully spark an interest in the subject in the next generation.
Margarita:
I helped run the Physics activity. I worked with small groups of 4–5 pupils, and our goal was to help them build their own paper helicopters by cutting a template out of paper and altering it to keep the handmade helicopter in the air for the longest time. My favourite part of the activity was explaining and exploring the physics of how the helicopters worked and discussing the various upgrades they could implement to improve them.
Sharing my enthusiasm and competitiveness with the kids was thrilling and also helped me practise my leadership skills.
However, the most fulfilling part was seeing the kids' smiles whenever they got their helicopters to work. It stretched their creativity and critical thinking skills, as well as making physics more accessible and less daunting. Each pupil had the chance to learn and create their own functional craft, and leave with more developed teamwork skills, together with a better understanding of the physics principles involved.
Jasper:
I helped prospective pupils with the interactive Biology workshop, guiding them through the dissection of owl pellets and the components within them, and helping them identify the bones and which animals they belonged to.
From the activities, I developed the skill of simplifying concepts and explaining them to younger pupils.
It also enabled me to share my enthusiasm for the subject with the parents who came in to observe.
The pupils learnt how to work with dissection tools, like tweezers, and how to collaborate as a team to identify different bone structures, learning new scientific jargon, and, for some, overcoming the challenge of the owl pellets' smell!
