From Rockets to Reptiles: Maths and Science Week 2025
From rockets to reptiles, maths to memory, this week was packed with exciting challenges, thought-provoking questions, and a whole lot of curiosity! Here are some of the highlights:
Maths Assembly
Monday kicked off with a Maths assembly exploring the maths behind our favourite games like Dobble, Monopoly, and Mario Kart, complete with tips to master Candy Crush & Uno.
Year 10s were treated to a visit from insects, a tarantula, an African pygmy hedgehog, Bob the owl, Monty the carpet python, and a squirrel monkey on Monday, as part of STEM Week. Handlers Barbara and Jules from Heythrop Zoological Gardens, a private zoo that specialises in exotic animal training using positive reinforcement, taught students about animal characteristics, habitats, food, and protective behaviour. Bob the owl gave a star performance, flying over the audience across the Recital Hall and perching on the piano! Our Year 10s got braver as the workshop went on, and most managed to stroke the python and have the monkey balance on their shoulder by the end. Mr Lawrence even managed to hold the very wiggly seven-foot-long python!
Maths Feast
Also on Monday, we hosted the Maths Feast – a fun educational challenge for Year 10s which tests problem-solving and teamwork skills beyond the curriculum. Pupils from 11 schools attended the event run by the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP). Twenty-three teams of four students tested their maths skills in several problem-solving rounds requiring different strategies for success. Awards were given for good teamwork and for the winning team of each round.
Eight students and two teachers attended from each of the following schools: Halcyon London International School, North London Collegiate School, Chelsea Academy, The Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, Alperton Community School, Phoenix Academy, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, Twyford CofE High School, Drayton Manor High School, Northolt High School, and Kingsdale Foundation School, plus our own NHEHS cohort. Well done to students from William Borlase’s Grammar School, who were the overall winners!
View this post on Instagram
House Engineering
On Tuesday, Year 7 students participated in an exciting House Engineering Challenge. Two teams from each House—Sharman, Hepburn, Nightingale, and Elliot—competed to design and build a rocket and a transport system capable of carrying the rocket at least 3 metres. Armed with a fictional currency called “Faradays,” students visited the engineering shop to purchase materials and components for their creations. Teams were judged on both the quality of their builds and the height their air-powered rockets could reach. The challenge not only sparked creativity and teamwork but also ignited a passion for engineering and innovation in our young students. The winning team was Sharman 2 (Addie L, Liliana R, Eloise R, and Iqrah S). A big congratulations to all the teams for their hard work and enthusiasm!
CREST Fayre
On Wednesday, Year 8s showcased their Bronze CREST award projects at the CREST Fayre. Students have worked very hard in groups on their projects since January, recently creating a display stand to demonstrate their research on biology, physics, psychology, and chemistry topics. Topics included: the impact of light on plant growth; surviving under the ice; raising the past: preserving shipwrecks; how high pressure affects humans underwater; how light conditions affect the growth of cress seeds; how being underwater affects human mental health; and the emotional experience of living underwater. Pupils presented their work to teachers, answering questions about their research. These students also stood out for their eloquence and passion at the fayre: Erin T, Clara F, Kate M, and Maddy YH.
Science Assembly
On Thursday, our Science Reps led a thought-provoking assembly, asking “What if…?” from physics to psychology, sparking curiosity and big ideas!
Physics: What if the Earth was a doughnut shape?
Computer Science: What if all the ethical hackers turned against us?
Psychology: What if you could delete memories?
Biology: What if humans could photosynthesise like plants?
Chemistry: What if we had instant chemistry like Honey Lemon has in Big Hero 6?
New Scientist Roulette Final for Year 7
At lunchtime, four finalists (Swara D, Lucy L, Lauren M and Beatrice S) from Year 7 took part in the final of the New Scientist Roulette Challenge. Students had been given an article from New Scientist to read, disseminate the facts, and present for one minute on the topic to our judges, Mrs Whitehead and Ms Eastwood. Well done to all presenters for their well-researched and delivered talks and congratulations to Swara for being the overall winner and Bea who was commended for best poster.
Interactive Science Workshops for Junior School Led by Year 12
Friday wrapped up the week with Sixth Form subject lectures on Biology and Physics, followed by interactive Science Workshops led by our Year 12 Science Reps for our #NHEHSJuniors in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2.
View this post on Instagram
Pi Day
Finally, being Pi Day (March 14), we celebrated with the annual pi recital, won by Ellie in Year 10 with 258 digits of pi! We made pi bracelets, and our Pie-endulum (apple pies in a box) did a fairly good job of estimating pi too!
GDST #700STEM Essay Competition
Congratulations also to the following girls for being shortlisted for the finals of the GDST #700STEM essay writing competition: Elizabeth M (KS3 Maths essay), Giuliana R (Technology and Engineering KS4 essay), and Ellie C-S (Maths KS4 essay).
New Edition of The Franklin
Our Science department were also excited to announce the publication of the latest edition of The Franklin – our Science newsletter.
A huge thank you to all our amazing teachers, Science and Maths Reps, and everyone involved in making this week one to remember!
