This week at FHS we were delighted to celebrate British Science Week, embracing this year’s theme of “Curiosity”.

We began the week with “Burning Questions Live”, an event shaped entirely by pupil curiosity. Pupils were invited to pose their most thought-provoking scientific questions to their teachers, sparking lively discussions that ranged from imagining a world without carbon to considering the mind-bending possibility of wormholes and time travel. They also explored how life on Earth has adapted to survive in some of our planet’s most hostile environments and what this might mean for the search for life elsewhere in the universe.

Throughout the week, pupils enjoyed hands on activities that brought science, art and history together. They began by making their own playdough, then stepped into the role of historical artists and chemists by creating oil paints from natural minerals such as malachite, chalk, haematite and charcoal. Along the way, they learned about the science behind traditional painting techniques, discussing the distinctions between tempera and oil paints and discovering how artists adjust the ratio of binder across the layers of an oil painting.

On Wednesday, pupils took part in two captivating expert talks from Mr Trussell and Mr KC. These sessions carried pupils deep into the mysteries of the cosmos, from the nature of black holes to the intriguing question of whether we might be living in a simulation. The ideas explored continued to prompt thoughtful debate long after the talks had ended.

We rounded off the week on Friday with a Science Playground Takeover, where our science prefects delighted everyone with an array of science themed baked goods. It was a wonderful reminder that curiosity and creativity can flourish far beyond the laboratory.

It has been a fantastic week that truly celebrated the spirit of inquiry, and we hope pupils returned home full of questions and excitement about the wonders of science.

Ms Norman, Head of Science