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Friday, 01 May 2009
Primary schools were back at Bolton School this week for a
Science Festival aimed at inspiring young minds. Last week many of
the same pupils had attended a workshop with Sir Harry Kroto, a
Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry and Old Boy of the School. This
time they were involved in the School's annual Science Festival.
Twenty six primary schools attended from Bolton, Bury, North and
West Manchester, Preston, Wigan and Leigh.
The festival provides an opportunity for gifted young pupils
from Year 5 to make use of Bolton School's laboratories and
resources and to absorb themselves in Science for the day. Teams of
four spent the morning in Biology and Chemistry laboratories
undertaking a number of challenging forensic and chemical practical
activities. Forensic activities included blood testing,
fingerprinting, chemical analysis of soil samples, chromatography
and microscopic fibre examination. Pupils also undertook a number
of fun experiments involving chemical reactions and produced a
variety of colours and smells, including Prussian Blue and
Ammonia.
Pupils were assisted throughout the day by their own "Science
Buddies" from the Girls' Division and Boys' Division Sixth
Forms.
We do some science at my primary school and I like it but this
is great fun because it allows us to spend the whole day at it and
I have learnt such a lot." Her teacher, Mr David Geeson, said: "We
jumped at the chance to come again to this festival. The pupils
really enjoy themselves and it is great that we can use all these
great laboratory facilities.
Isabelle Peters of Greenmount Primary School,
Bury
In the afternoon, pupils were transfixed by a science magic show
by Richard Robinson and an awards ceremony. There were a number of
prizes awarded to schools for their team efforts during the day:
Broadoak Primary School from Swinton won the Science Knowledge Quiz
prize, The Oaks Primary School won the Biology Prize (Forensic
Science activity) and Ashbridge Primary School from Hutton won the
Chemistry Prize. The overall Science Festival prize winners,
Markland Hill Primary School from Bolton, were awarded a range of
prizes as well as a cheque for £150 for the school to spend on
science equipment.
I have attended for the past 4 years with different groups and
it's a great innovative day. It puts the fun element back into
science and challenges children with open ended investigations.
These are the scientists of the future!" Pupil, Alice Entwistle
said: "It"s been a brilliant day, we never thought we would
win!
Markland Hill teacher, Mr Williams
I think the day has been a great success. We aim to inspire
young pupils with the wonder of science. For me, the importance of
this event intensifies each year. I am keen to engage gifted young
minds in science at an early age, in the hope that they will
develop a passion for the sciences which they will carry through to
later life. It is increasingly important to have a scientifically
literate society. To this end we hope to nurture talent and
encourage students to undertake science courses at university and
pursue scientific careers. We are fortunate to have outstanding
facilities to share with primary schools from all over the local
area and, throughout the day, we have challenged and stretched
these young pupils. Inspiring young minds is what teaching is all
about and I think we have done that today.
Dr Mullins, Assistant Headmaster and organiser of the
event
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