Head's Newsletter 14 July 2022

BUSHY PARK FIELD

SUCCESSS IN MAIDEN CHALLENGE

TRIP

On the first day of our Biology field trip, we focused on sampling methods and statistical tests, including a T - test and Spearman ’ s rank correlation coefficient. We identified the diversity of local wild plants by using a variety of quadrats to collect data, then used statistical tests to consider whether our results were significant or not. We all overestimated the British weather and got completely drenched by the rain. On the second day, we investigated the difference in diversity of invertebrates between two ponds. We used all kinds of equipment: nets, pipettes, and spoons to catch and identify the invertebrates; our best catch of the day was definitely a

In either a science or computer science lesson on Tuesday 26th April 2022, the entirety of Year 10 took part in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge. The National Scientific Thinking Challenge was founded in 2021 during the pandemic as a joint venture by staff at Warwick, Southampton, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester and Oxford Universities, and was designed to test student ’ s ability to solve scientific problems, as opposed to recall of taught material. Awards are issued for performance against the rest of the country - Bronze for the top 40 % of entries, Silver for the top 25 % of entries, and Gold for the top 10% of entries. In our first outing, we scored a phenomenal 113 awards - 30 Bronze, 42 Silver and 41 Gold. The challenge received 4475 entries across 70 schools, this means our haul of Gold awards makes up nearly 10 % of all awarded nationally! A huge well done to all of Year 10 - you ’ ve certainly set the bar high!

water scorpion. Another group caught a tiny water scorpion.

Despite being only two days, the knowledge

gained was invaluable. Being able to study sampling techniques in the field, not only has helped to reinforce the learning, but has also given us examples of real - world uses of Ecology that may not have been as easily accessible through classroom teaching alone.