Alderman Peel

High School

STEM

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

At Alderman Peel High School, we place a strong emphasis on STEM education throughout our curriculum.

Students will engage with STEM in all of the Sciences, Computing, Design and Technology and Mathematics lessons. We provide a wide variety of opportunities for our students in cross-curricular and extra-curricular activities to broaden students understanding in these areas and increase STEM capital in our students. 

The knowledge and skills developed in the STEM subjects are vital for all students to become creative and informed problem solvers who can thrive in an ever-changing job market in the future.

Mr B Tawana, Assistant Principal, oversees the STEM programme and works with a team of incredibly passionate and talented staff (STEM Associates) to provide significant opportunities for students at the school.

Mrs A Moffat:  Associate of Technology & STEM Coordinator
Mr J Nash:  STEM Associate of Science
Mrs H Barker:  STEM Associate of Mathematics

STEM Initiatives

         Science…

  • Annual Science Fair (all years)
    As part of Science Week, students are encouraged to showcase their love of science by challenging facts, asking questions, inventing solutions and presenting their findings. Working in pairs/teams, students take part in the Science Fair by conducting a demonstration, involving visitors in an activity, providing a visual poster and a verbal explanation  Visitors to the Science Fair include students and staff from APHS and the local primary schools and the winners are selected by external judges. Students are also encouraged to enter their projects into the Big Bang Competition https://www.thebigbang.org.uk/the-big-bang-competition/

  • Science Club (all years monthly lunchtime)
    A club designed to provide the opportunity for students to have fun exploring scientific concepts.

 

Design & Technology…

  • GRESHAM’S STEAM FAIR TRIP (Years 7-10)
    Our STEM club and Year 10 Art, Design & Technology students visit the annual STEAM Fair in the Dyson STEAM Building at Gresham’s to meet representatives from local and national businesses and learn about career routes.

  • RAF YOUTH STEM WORKSHOPS (Year 7)
    Michelle Randall at RAF Youth STEM and Matt Bagley at Camouflaged Learning run workshops with Year 7 and 8 aimed to raise awareness of careers and opportunities within the STEM arena, through aspiration raising exploration of STEM skills, practices, thinking and mindsets!

  • Big Bang UK STEM Day (Year 7)

Students take part in a range of workshops throughout the day including a boat design challenge thanks to Neil & Richenda Thompson @ntboatyard, Robotics programming and a Tower Tournament thanks to @bydesigngroup

  • Orsted 3DW Virtual Windfarm Design Day (Year 8)
    30 year 8 students have the opportunity to take part in a free day workshop funded by Orsted UK and run by 3DW to design a virtual windfarm off the coast of North Norfolk. The students are tasked with working in teams to identify ‘suitable areas’ for offshore wind farms and then to design, build, cost and present their own proposals for an virtual offshore windfarm taking into account a range of constraints including respecting areas of conversation and minimising noise and visual impacts for nearby residents.

 
 

  • RAF STEM Construction Challenge Workshop (Year 8)
    Students learn the principles of engineering and work in teams to build structures using Meccano against the clock. In partnership with STEM Ambassadors from RAF Marham and funded by Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET)

  • RAF STEM Principles of Flight Workshop (Year 9)
    Students learn the basics of flight and build and test balsa wood gliders. In partnership with STEM Ambassadors from RAF Marham and funded by Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET)

  • Drone Coding Workshop (Year 9)
    Students learn to code drones using block programming and work in teams to create a coded synchronised drone dance. Funded by APHS and run by RAF STEM Partner, Hyett Education https://www.hyetteducation.com/school-workshops


 

  • Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station Trip (Year 9)
    30 Year students visit Sizewell B Power Station to enjoy a tour of the facility to learn about Nuclear Power generation.

  • Enterprise Week Challenge (Year 10)
    Year 10 D&T students create products to sell during Global Entrepreneurship Week made from recycled plastic as part of their sustainability Enterprise challenge! All the money raised is donated to their chosen charity.

   

  •  Holkham Carpentry & Metal Forge Trip (Year 10)

CLUBS:

  • STEM ‘Tech Tuesdays’ Club (KS3 weekly lunchtime)
    Students learn coding, compete in challenges and use the D&T ‘Maker Space’ resources to make models and build structures to solve problems #TechWeCan #FIXperts #STEMPointEast
     
  • CAD/CAM Club: ‘Airgineers’ Mirco-Drones (all years weekly after-school)
    Students design, build and learn to fly a radio controlled quadcopter (also known as a drone) using 3D modelling software and 3D printers. There is also a competitive element to Airgineers, as students can fly their micro-drones in team games, individual challenges and time trials. https://www.airgineers.co.uk/


 

  • GREENPOWER F24 KIT CAR CLUB (weekly after-school)
    12 students from years 7 -10 work together to build an electric kit car in our STEM Club every Thursday afterschool and race against other schools in the regional heat at Lotus Test Track, Norwich in June! https://www.greenpower.co.uk/about

 
 

Online Provision:

  • D&T/STEM Competitions Google Classroom (Code: 3dvepj5)
    This online D&T/STEM Competitions Classroom is open to all years and provides access to a range of exciting local, regional and national competitions and challenges, designed to inspire our young designers, inventors, scientists and engineers of the future. We encourage students to join and explore an area of interest to develop their independent learning, creativity and problem solving skills.
    This online resource also provides the opportunity to network and collaborate with like-minded peers and the chance to gain recognition from the wider school community, members of industry and STEM employers. https://classroom.google.com/c/Mjc4OTgwOTg3NzU2?cjc=3dvepj5

STEM COMPETITION WINNERS INCLUDE:


 

  • Royal Society of the Arts Pupil Design Awards: Runners Up 2020

Two Design & Technology Year 10 students were runners up in the national Pupil Design Awards 2020 run by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA). Grace S and Chloe F teamed up to tackle the ‘Positive Connections’ brief which asked students to create ways to support young people to use technology responsibly and in a way which develops positive relationships. The duo developed a game called 'Believe in Yourself' which focused on supporting mental health by creating easy ways for teenagers to talk to others without feeling anxious. Their idea was selected to go through to the national finals and Grace and Chloe were asked to take part in an online video call to pitch their entry to the industry expert judges.  The judges said they were blown away by the ‘confidence, research and maturity’ of their entry, and picked Grace and Chloe as the national runners up in their age group category.

https://www.fakenhamtimes.co.uk/news/21823773.youngsters-mental-health-boosting-game-lands-plaudits-national-competition/

  • Amazon Longitude Explorer Prize: Runners Up 2021
    Launched in 2014, this national competition challenges teams of young people aged 11-16 to design, test and develop technology enterprises for social good and fosters entrepreneurial skills needed for their future work. In 2020, it became the Amazon Longitude Explorer Prize and we are extremely proud that two of our Y7 students, Annabelle P. and Lily R., were one of the 3 runners up to win £5000 for our school in 2021 with their ‘Pura Air’ Bluetooth pollution device! https://www.wensumtrust.org.uk/aldermanpeel/news-and-events/aphs-news/dbaker-mp-nov21

 https://longitudeexplorer.challenges.org/winners https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/20637786.norfolk-mp-celebrates-success-two-young-entrepreneurs/

  • Smallpeice Trust Global Underwater Challenge STEM Competition: Regional Winners 2022

A team of Year 9 students won the Global Underwater STEM competition regional event in Norwich by designing an ROV to recover ocean plastic! They then travelled to Aberdeen, all expenses paid, to compete in the final!

After completing all coding challenges, creating a great TV ad & marketing campaign, & amazing final pitch presentation, Team APHS can hold their heads up high @AldermanHigh! Well done all teams -such strong competition!  @GUH_News @SmallpeiceTrust 

  • Women in Engineering ‘Skills for Energy’ STEM Event 2022

Well done Team APHS @AldermanHigh for winning 'Most Engaged Group' #skillsforenergy Young Energisers Event Prize! Thank you for an amazing learning opportunity! #inwed22 @Equinor_UK #dandt #aphsdt #STEM #WomenInEngineering

 

  • Enginuity Skills Award 2023: Winner

Massive congratulations to Jorja in Year 7 for designing the winning entry in the Enginuity Skills Awards 2023 Table Centrepiece Competition which was a national design competition run in partnership with the Design & Technology Association! Jorja won a £75 Amazon voucher, an engineering book, a Sphero Bolt and a Robotics Workshop with Sphero Bolts for her class run by Tablet Academy https://shop.ta.education/product/sphero-bolt/

  

COMPUTING…

  

Congratulations to Lily and Alexi for winning the Lego Line Following Robotics competition hosted @SheringhamHigh. They have won a trip to Estonia to compete in the Robotex World Championships in Estonia

  • Drone Simulator Club (all years weekly lunchtime)
    Students can learn to fly using an RC controller a variety of drones and RC aircraft
  • Computer Science Club (KS4 weekly lunchtime)
    A club designed to provide the opportunity for students to choose and explore CS related concepts related to coursework projects.

    MATHS...
  • UKMT Maths Challenge
    An annual competition promoting problem solving and collaboration. The challenge encourages mathematical reasoningprecision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.
  • Maths Class for Advanced Mathematics (weekly after-school by invitation only)

DELETE THE TABLE BELOW!