Cranford Review 2016

Science Department 2015-2016
The Drayson Project
Since our first report in
the annual review 2015 we
have seen some significant
developments in the science
department and some amazing
opportunities for our students.
We are delighted to announce
the project overall has seen a
170% increase in the number of girls choosing A-level
physics which is a reflection of the ever growing
confidence in our young female scientists .
The various activities of the project this year included:
Ms Stokes and Ms Foale attended the annual Institute
of Physics two day IGB (Improving Gender Balance)
conference at the National STEM Centre in York at the
end of February 2016. The conference provided many
useful ideas to trying to promote more girls into studying
physics at A level and an opportunity to update and
discuss what they had done throughout the year. Good
practice and resources were shared. The most memorable
part of the conference was learning about growth mindset
and the benefits it has on girls in physics.
Jessica Hamer from the IOP ran this WFactor in the autumn
term 2015. The girls became physics ambassadors and
visited local primary schools. They gave mini hands-on
workshops on static electricity, bubbles, smart materials
and rockets.
Ms Foale ran the Girls in Physics project in the spring
term 2016. The girls explored gender balance within
Cranford and interviewed students and composed short
video clips displaying their findings.
A video, produced by Caitlin Butterworth, Lina Iman
and Maeve D’Souza (year 10) can be found in the school
intranet at:
T:\w-factor\Girls in Physics
The Rocket Seed Project
Cranford Community College was
selected to take part in a unique national
science experiment which will have
future implications for the human race
in space.
On 2nd September 2015, two kilograms
of rocket seeds travelled from Baikonur,
Kazakhstan on the Soyuz 44S rocket
to the International Space Station. The
seeds were stored in microgravity by
British Astronaut Tim Peake before they
were returned to Earth in spring 2016.
On Wednesday 20th April 2016, Cranford
received two packets of seeds - one of
which spent 6 months in space, whilst the
other remained here on earth. Students
at Cranford planted 100 of each type
of seed, but did not know which packet
of seeds has been in space. This was
revealed in a unique live broadcast from
the International Space Station by Tim
Peake at the end of the experiment.
During the first half of the summer
term our young scientists took various
measurements, comparing the 2 different
seed types to formulate data.
This UK wide study will provide the
European Space Agency with some
invaluable data regarding the effects
of microgravity on various crops and
plants which are frequently consumed
by humans.
To support this programme of developing
female physicists, the school ran a whole
staff training on gender and unconscious
bias in classroom practice with the help
of Jessica Hamer from the IOP. There has
also been training on embedding careers
into classroom practice for link primaries
and other local secondary schools.
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