Science Week here in the Prep School has been an undoubted triumph. As a mathematician, and thus almost a scientist, it has been a real delight to me to see the way the week’s events and activities have captured the imagination and enthusiasm of our children. A deep and abiding interest in the world around them is something I’m keen to see all our pupils develop, and an understanding of scientific method and ideas is going to be crucial for the children as they grow up in an increasingly technological society.It’s been a particular pleasure to welcome a number of senior school scientists into prep school classrooms over the course of the week, with Dr Gate talking on numbers in nature and scuba diving, Mrs Dell introducing Years 3 and 4 to psychology, Mrs Jakubowski speaking on volcanoes to Year 5, Mr Hicks explaining the inner workings of computers, Dr Otter and Mrs Duffy running a biology quiz and Mr Pluck’s chemistry experiments with Year 4 and 5. Being able to draw on expertise like this is a great strength of the close relationship between the prep and senior schools. We were also delighted to welcome one of our governors, Mr Charles, to talk to Year 5 on sound, and sixth formers Alice and Emily to lead electricity experiments.
I would encourage you to continue to make opportunities to feed your sons and daughters’ scientific curiosity over the half term break, perhaps with nature or geology walks, star-gazing or trips to the Science or Natural History museums in London or Intech and Wisley more locally. I do hope you and your children have a very good half term.