British Science Week was celebrated at Northfield Primary School from Monday, 9th March to Friday, 13th March. Throughout the week, each key stage focused on carefully selected questions designed to spark curiosity and encourage scientific thinking.
For Upper Key Stage 2 (UKS2), Science Lead, Tori Houghton, encouraged pupils to work collaboratively in groups of no more than four to generate their own scientific enquiry question based on personal interests. This task was introduced approximately one month in advance of Science Week, allowing pupils time to form groups, refine their ideas, and decide on a clear plan of action.
During Science Week itself, time was allocated for pupils to access resources and continue their independent research. This process culminated in a UKS2 Science Fair held on Friday, 13th March. The Year 5 session ran from 13:45 to 14:10, followed by the Year 6 session from 14:25 to 14:50. Parents and carers were invited to attend the showcase event, and Mr Royds-Jones, a Physics teacher from Minsthorpe Community College, joined as guest judge. He also provided official science display boards, helping to give the event a professional and high-quality presentation. A wide range of enquiry questions were explored, including: “What is cancer?”, “How do crystals support people’s mental health?”, and “What is a tsunami?” Pupils were required to produce at least three sources of research and create a 3D model to support and enhance their presentation.
It was a pleasure to see pupils’ curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm throughout the project. There was a real sense of excitement across UKS2 in the lead-up to the event. Mr Royds-Jones praised the children for their confidence, noting how clearly and assuredly they were able to speak about their chosen topics and present in front of an audience. Following the presentations, Mr Royds-Jones selected one winning group from Year 5 and one from Year 6. Both teams were awarded a £10 Love2shop voucher along with a medal in recognition of their outstanding work.
Reflecting on the event, Science Lead and teacher Tori Houghton commented:
“I will definitely be running it again next year!”