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Year 13 Scientists visit CERN at Half term

Twenty Year 13 students experienced a fascinating visit to CERN, Geneva at Half Term. The students reported that they had an enjoyable and informative trip to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, where physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. 

Below you will find some of the comments that the students made on return from their trip, including descriptions of some of the photos in the gallery at the bottom of the page.

“Geneva was a fantastic city to explore, and I particularly found the antimatter factory really interesting. It was great seeing/hearing first-hand the details of particle physics which are so alien to our everyday lives. I feel I’ve learnt a lot from the experience." Paul Ertl.

“The Globe of Science and Innovation is a visitor centre designed to inform visitors about the significant research being carried out at CERN. It is 27 metres high and 40 metres in diameter. Whilst we were there, an exhibit relating to the Big Bang was on show which explained the details behind the theory. I found this attraction extremely interesting and would recommend anyone going to Geneva to visit this fascinating piece of architecture.” Akhil Dhokia. 

"The photo is looking across Lake Geneva from the Marina and the Jet d'Eau. Geneva was a beautiful city and the vastness of the lake, combined with my love of boats, created a stunning view." Ben Constable.

“When Tom Hanks came to CERN he said this about it- ‘magic is not made here, magic is explained’. To me this perfectly sums up CERN, having visited it and seen some of the experiments in progress.  At CERN they are testing and looking for particles that some people thought were made up in science fiction, such as anti-matter.” Matthew Hodgart.

"Geneva was an amazing place filled with culture and memorable landscapes." Rowan Thomas.

Many thanks to all the students who contributed comments and photographs and who  expressed their appreciation to trip leader Mr Van Dyk and his colleagues for such an enjoyable experience. 

Please follow the link below below to learn more about CERN:

https://home.cern/

 

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30th January

Teachers commended for transforming Design & Technology education

We were delighted to read that our Design and Technology teachers, Miss Yalley and Mr Hadley were featured in the Design and Technology publication.  The article discusses the transformation of the Design & Technology (D&T) department at St. Clement Danes School over the past five years. It discusses how Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley took ownership of the subject, implementing a new subject ethos based on trust, excellence, respect, and safety to foster student responsibility and independence. Key Initiatives & Changes Revamping Projects & Curriculum Introduced more challenging design projects at earlier years (Years 8 & 9). Shifted focus to design skills, problem-solving, and justifying choices over just practical outcomes. Prioritized quality over quantity in student projects. Notable projects: Year 7: Robot concepts Year 8: Articulated lamps Year 9: Branded dispensers & modular speakers Encouraging Inclusion & Diversity Created a girls-only club to boost female participation in GCSE Product Design. Sixth-form girls mentor younger students, building confidence and community. Design Ventura Competition Integrated mock coursework with the Design Ventura competition. Encouraged teamwork and prototyping to improve engagement. Use of AI & Technology Introduced cloud-based tools to make learning more accessible. Leveraged AI for idea development and communication. Professional Development & Industry Links Participating in the Teachers in Residence program to gain industry insights. Adopted industry models like the Double Diamond Design Process and Scrum-based project sprints to enhance student learning. Established workshops with industry professionals to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue design careers. Key Takeaways for Educators Adapt curriculum to student needs and school culture. Pilot new initiatives as clubs first to gauge student interest. Encourage student feedback to refine teaching methods. Be open to change and continuously evolve teaching strategies. The article ultimately encourages educators to embrace creativity, experimentation, and student collaboration in D&T education. We are very proud of our teachers for their continued hard work and dedication for each of their subject areas. Congratulations to Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley for their inspiring article and the incredible work they’ve done to transform Design & Technology at St. Clement Danes! Their dedication to fostering creativity, inclusion, and industry connections is truly commendable, and their impact on students will undoubtedly be long-lasting.