Barcoding Biologists Go Bug Hunting!

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Year 10 biologists collect insects as part of the ‘barcoding for beginners’ project at Bishop’s

On Thursday 23rd April, we went around the school looking for unusual insects. We used different sampling equipment including pooters and sweep nets to collect our insects ready for the next stage of our project. It was a great sunny day but the insects were hard to spot, most of them were hiding in and around the school pond!

So what is our project? We (15 Year 10 biologists) have started a 10 week project in collaboration with the Wellcome Genome Campus (https://www.wellcomegenomecampus.org/) to isolate the DNA from various insects and sequence it so we can identify the insect based on molecular comparisons and, maybe, we have found an insect that is yet to be classified! This is the first stage of the project and we are all looking forward to the next few weeks of discovery.

Team Maths Challenges

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Success in Herts Team Maths Challenges

Every Monday night, a dedicated group of students meets to tackle challenging Maths problems, and this year, they took on both the Year 7 and Year 8 Team Maths Challenges. In these competitions, teams of four students work together through four rounds: two general Maths rounds, a memory round, and an estimation round.

Our Year 7 team faced tough competition but showed incredible determination. Although they didn’t automatically qualify for the final from their heat, after a nail-biting wait, we were thrilled to hear that they had made it through. This was no small achievement, as 104 teams participated in the competition! The Year 7 team – Mabel C (7Fr), Olivia D (7Fr), Zainab S (7Ha), and Chloe H (7Se) – travelled to Stevenage for the in-person final. The questions were much harder, but the students handled them with great skill and enthusiasm. While they didn’t place in the top 3, they did an amazing job and represented the school impeccably.

In the Year 8 competition, although our team – Molly Y (8Ha), Sonam S (8Ha), Precious C (8Ha) and Olivia O (8Ha) didn’t make it to the final, they performed exceptionally well in their heat, finishing in the top half of all schools that entered this year. We couldn’t be more proud of both teams for their hard work and excellent sportsmanship!

We’re excited to continue supporting our students in future challenges and look forward to even more success!

Mrs Lashley

History Debate on The Cold War

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A historical debate on our GCSE topic of The Cold War help dive deeper into our History curriculum

Our Year 10 debating team had their “maiden voyage” into the world of online debating this week as they joined the many teams across the country debating on the online platform, Parallel Histories. Some of our experienced debaters from Year 12 were on hand to advise and mentor them on research and delivery of the debate. Their focus for this event was on – Who heightened tensions in The Cold War – USA or USSR? This subject dovetails beautifully into the History GCSE curriculum as a key topic we study – so the pupils attacked their research with gusto!

Our team delivered very commanding performances – commended on their delivery, research and use of sources bringing out the finer points about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Wall.

Our debating teams across Year 10 and Year 12 will look to debate face to face in the Summer term!

The Ashfield Music Festival Project: Bringing Physics to Life!

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To celebrate Physics Week, Year 10 students dive into the physics behind music festivals.

Just before the Easter break, 60 Year 10 students engaged in a unique off-timetable activity, dissecting the physics that underpins the dynamic environment of music festivals. This exploration provided insights into the practical applications science and illuminated exciting potential career pathways for those with a physics background.

Students explored the captivating optical physics behind festival visuals, dissecting the science of light manipulation that creates stunning laser shows and projections. The intricacies of sound system design were also under the spotlight. Students investigated the physics of sound waves, including a peak into some physics A-level content like superposition and interference, to grasp how sound engineers strategically deploy speakers and employ techniques to minimize unwanted sound clashes across festival grounds.

In a practical application of materials science, students created and tested composite materials made of pasta, glue, paper, and string. Inspired by the innovative designs of modern stage structures, they combined different materials to engineer samples with enhanced strength.This hands-on activity mirrored the advanced material science crucial for constructing safe and efficient festival infrastructure. They also experimented with the structure of stages – creating models from newspapers which were able to withstand large forces (some even the weight of a person!)

The sheer scale of music festivals also provided a compelling context for understanding the vital role of project management. Students considered the multifaceted aspects of planning and executing such large events, including resource allocation, logistical coordination, and risk mitigation. They guided their teams through the activities and supported them with their strong physics knowledge and problem solving skills. This highlighted the essential role of structured management in bringing complex scientific and engineering endeavours to life.

We were delighted to welcome back Dr Lota (former BHGS chemistry teacher) who kindly contributed his time to enrich students’ knowledge as a materials science expert, and Mrs Keay (former BHGS Science Technician) who shed light on the exciting world of health and safety and the high stakes problem solving that comes with it.

Through these interconnected explorations, students gained a comprehensive insight into the fundamental physics that underpins the magic of music festivals. From the dazzling light displays to the powerful sound systems and the robust infrastructure, the day revealed the profound impact of scientific principles in creating these large-scale cultural events. This interdisciplinary approach not only reinforced their physics knowledge but also illuminated the diverse and exciting ways science and technology intersect with the world around them. A huge congratulations to all involved!

Miss Blanchard

Behind the Wizardry Scenes at Harry Potter Film Studios

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A magical day at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden: Year 9 students took a trip behind the scenes of the Harry Potter films

On Wednesday 2nd April, our enthusiastic Year 9 students embarked on an unforgettable adventure at the Warner Brothers’ Studios in Leavesden, home to the magic of the Harry Potter films. The trip was an incredible experience, allowing the students to get up close with some of the most iconic sets, costumes, and props from the beloved films.

The day began with a costume workshop where two lucky students were selected to handle original pieces of clothing worn by the stars in the Harry Potter series. It was a real highlight, giving the pupils the rare chance to feel the magic of the costumes up close and learn about the craftsmanship behind them. They were then able to design their own costumes for additional characters, taking away their mood boards at the end of the session.

Next, the students set off on a tour of the studios, where they were immersed in the world of wizardry. From flying on broomsticks to sipping delicious butterbeer, every corner of the studio was explored. Students couldn’t get enough of the chance to pull up a mandrake in the greenhouse—no ear plugs required! They were also able to explore the stunning sets, including the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, Gringotts and the Forbidden Forest. Even the most reluctant Harry Potter fan couldn’t fail to be drawn into the magic. The day was a perfect blend of fun, learning, and sheer magic, giving the students a deeper appreciation for the artistry and creativity that brought the wizarding world to life – an experience that none of them will soon forget.

Mrs Herlock

Back to Back Careers Events for Key Stage 3

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Year 8 and Year 9 engage in Careers events: Career Skills Days and our annual Work Shadowing

“Back to back” events were co-ordinated at the end of term for Careers with our Year 8 Work Shadowing Day and the Year 9 engaging in a Career Skills morning with local businesses on Monday 31 March.

Year 8 were out and about in the local business communities enjoying seeing what their relatives do for a living. Most joined their family to see what they got up to in their working days. This is an important introduction to the world of work for our pupils as they see the shape of a working day and experience the different types of roles in the outside world.

In Life Skills lessons and via Careers assemblies, they are encouraged to think about the transferable skills seen in the workplace and how they can develop them. They are also tasked on asking some interesting questions of their hosts, from ‘why did you choose this career’ to top tips for working effectively in a workplace.

While Year 8 were out and about, Year 9 were treated to some local business visitors. We ran a Careers Skills conference for the morning at school. Business visitors included: Tesco, Computacenter, Roche, Paypoint and they looked at how to apply for roles for example what a CV is and an interview. They also focused on key skills they look for in employees such as communication and team working. Presentations and interactive tasks were the order of the day. A busy time for career skills building!

Mrs Higgins, Career Lead

UCAS Discovery Day

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UCAS Discovery Day Conference: exploring the next steps

The Sixth form team arranged the annual drive up to the EXCEL centre in London for our Year 12s just before Easter. This is a large conference event for all university and apprenticeship offerings for 18+. Our Sixth form, along with the Consortium schools, spent the morning understanding the degree course options and chatting with different universities and course providers for different subject areas. Our Year 12s got a real taste of what is available to them, with great timing on this event to kick start considering their options going into Year 13. The event also reminded the students that the University Open Day season starts in early Summer through to the Autumn term.

House Form Challenge – 4 Week Marathon

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First House Form Challenge run by Bishop’s Sixth Formers

Our creative and innovative Sixth form team have been developing their leadership skills by devising, communicating and running our first ever House Form Challenge this month.

For four Thursday Registrations across last term, each House fielded a team for an external activity; or did a whole Form activity across Years 7-10.

The Challenges were all fun activities from scoring basketball hoops against each other to racing to blow Maltesers across the sports hall! Alternate weeks saw our Forms being put through their paces – with whole Form activities ranging from the fastest to say the alphabet backwards to naming the most countries!

This was a House Challenge so was run by a cross-House Sixth form team and adjudicated by our Head of Enrichment, Mrs Jackson.

Tension was heightened by keeping the results secret – with just a mid-way result reveal!

The final week saw competition “hotting up” and a finale with Heads of House and Sixth Form teams going head to head on a fun obstacle course!

The triumphant House overall was Seacole – followed by Austen, Parr, Hadid and Franklin. Cross House competition is alive and kicking at Bishop’s and the House Form Challenge is gearing up the Houses for the last term of events leading to a 2025 House Winner!

Franklin student flourishes at Festival of Dance

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Siahra E in 10 Franklin competed at the UDO Dance Festival, coming first with her dance team in the musical theatre category

Franklin are very proud of Siahra E who successfully juggles a busy dance schedule with her school work and enrichment activities. Siahra attended the UDO British Dance Festival with her dance school on 21st-22nd March . This competition is advertised as the greatest platform to showcase dancing talents in Britain. ‘It was nerve-racking but exciting and inspirational’ states Siahra. ‘We competed in the intermediate musical theatre category and came first as well as coming second in the under-18 intermediate street dance group’. Siahra has worked hard to get back to full dance fitness after damaging her finger during a school netball match which caused her to take a long time out from training. Well done to Siahra and all those who competed in the Dance Festival.

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Tel: 01707 275331
Email: admin@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk

Headteacher:
Mr A Wood
BA (Oxon), MBA, NPQH