Year 8 STEM project

This year, we have been invited to Bath University to take part in a STEM project.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is a hot topic at the moment, because fewer school leavers are continuing studies of them into higher education, which might lead to a shortage of professionals in STEM industries in the future. Bath University have funding for five schools to participate in their STEM project this year and I am really pleased we are going to be one of them.

The project is open to eight year 8 students, along with two mentors from the sixth form. It needed to be a STEM-based focus which will help to improve this school. This year, we are looking at ways to improve the school's energy efficiency and so I have picked that as the theme for our project. As well as doing research on improving the way we use resources in school, pupils will be monitoring our energy usage and producing advice for staff and pupils on what they can do to make a difference.

The launch for this will take place at Bath University on November 24th. On this day, the students will participate in team-building activities to develop the skills they will need to move their project forward. They will also be given advice on how to get started, and how they can measure their success.

Students will then have until June to complete their study. They will be working with myself, Miss Drewitt, the school bursar Mrs Woollard, and the sixth form mentors. During this time, student ambassadors will also be visiting the school to help us stay on track, and to give workshops on presentation skills ready for the celebration day at Bath University on June 28th. At this point, students will present their projects and prizes will be awarded for Best Presentation and Best Overall Study.

Students will need to be available for both the launch day in November and the presentation day in June. In addition, work on the project will be taking place out of school hours and pupils must be prepared to attend regular sessions after school and possibly at lunch time. I am looking for enthusiastic people who are not afraid of hard work and are willing to put them time and effort in to make a difference in school - and, of course, to win the prize!

Because of the nature of this project, I have offered it to both the core AGT group in year 8 and to those students who have been identified as Gifted in Science. Competition for places is likely to be fierce and I am taking people on a first come, first served basis, so please get those slips in if you're interested!

Murder Mystery 2010

Last weekend we held our annual Murder Mystery for KS3, at Braeside in Devizes. This is an enrichment event, aimed at developing skills such as teamwork and creative problem solving, whilst also giving students a try at techniques and topics they might not cover until later in their school career, such as forensic science and accounting.

Each year we have a different theme, and staff work together to write the scripts, come up with the motives and create the evidence for each member of the team. It is a large undertaking, but made worth it by the enjoyment and enthusiasm show by the students.

This year, our theme was Britain's Most Haunted. As well as solving the murder, students worked in their teams to write a ghost story (which had to have a twist at the end so I didn't have nightmares!) which was told at the campfire on Friday night; they also had a technology task during which they had to create a ghost detector. On Saturday morning we did a scavenger hunt around Avebury stone circle, and on Saturday night we staged the Ghost Olympics, which was made even more challenging by the ghost costumes we insisted on certain team members donning before taking part.

Busy though we kept them, we culd not distract them from trying to solve the dastardly murder of Miss "Ed Balls" Oliver, a soundman who had been stabbed during the filming of the show on Friday night. Her murderer, Mr "Al Beano" Phillips was quickly apprehended and revealed in questioning that he had been blackmailed into committing he crime, but unfortunately he died before he could reveal who his blackmailer was, having carelessly drunk from a poisoned cup of coffee. Translating his diary from his native French language didn't shed any light on the subject, so students were forced to use forensic science to test for poison and finger prints on the poison bottle. The accounts for the show were also examined and the suspects questioned. Students then produced an incident board, an incident report and a reconstruction of the events.

Some comments from the students:
"Tiring, but a good experience"
"I really enjoyed the weekend as I enjoyed trying out new things"
"Really fun and enjoyable; quite funny as well."
"Challenging, stressful, but overall - awesome."
"This weekend was absolutely amazing, I've really enjoyed myself and I hope I get the opportunity to come again next year!"

Murder Mystery Theme announcement

We had a successful after school session today, which most of the pupils attended to meet with their groups and come up with a team name and logo.

This year's theme will be Britain's Most Haunted. We are suggesting that pupils dress as ghostbusters or inventive ghouls for dinner on Friday night, after which we will be having a campfire with entertainment provided by the pupils. On Thursday afternoon they will be spending time working with a member of the English department to create their own ghost stories, each of which must have a comedic twist at the end. Marshmallows at the ready! See you all on Friday.

Event: Murder Mystery weekend, March

Letters have gone out this week for the annual Key Stage Three Murder Mystery weekend at Braeside, which will be taking place this year from Friday 12th March to Sunday 14th March.

Duing the weekend, students will need to use a variety of skills to solve a dastardley murder, including code breaking, orienteering, forensic science and translation. The weekend is always hugely enjoyed by both students and staff alike and the feedback is overhwelmingly positive.


If you haven't had a letter but would like one, please email me at agt@matravers.wilts.sch.uk


Here's a group picture of last year's Detectives, giving a big YAARRRR (our theme was pirates):

We will be revealing the theme for the weekend (and possibly giving some clues) exclusively here the week before the event, so stay tuned!

Exciting AG&T courses at Braeside

Braeside, in Devizes, has provided enrichment courses for AG&T pupils for nearly a decade now and is an ideal setting for trying something out of the ordinary.

This autumn they are offering two courses to AG&T pupils at Key Stage Three - a survival skills day at the start of November, and a creative writing course in the middle of December. Full details, and an application form, can be found here. I would be more than happy to endorse any applications for places made by Matravers students.