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An action packed trip to Cern for science students

Over half term, 23 A-level Physics students, two A-level Chemistry students and three Science teachers went on the annual Physics Department trip to CERN.

The whole group enjoyed glorious autumn sunshine as they explored Geneva and the surrounding countryside, but the highlight was as ever the tour of the world-renowned particle physics laboratory.

With the Large Hadron Collider in the middle of a two-year shutdown for upgrades, the students were treated to an up-close look at CMS, the Compact Muon Solenoid, which is one of the two giant detectors that confirmed the existence of the Higgs Boson.

“CERN and the CMS detector had lots of information about high level physics concepts which were new to lots of us,” said year 13 Physics student Ben Hall.

The students also toured the Red Cross Museum, learning about the history and purpose of the famous international aid organisation, and the United Nations Office in Geneva, where the guide revealed how many different ways the UN is involved in humanitarian actions and the everyday lives of people in the United Kingdom.

The whirlwind three-day visit concluded with a cable-car trip up Mount Saleve, with its panoramic views over Geneva and its lake in one direction and of Mont Blanc and the Alps in the other, and a boat tour of Lake Geneva.

“The cable car was fun and the views were amazing. I also enjoyed exploring Geneva during free time,” said A-level Physics student Eisha Patankar.

“I hope the students are inspired by the visit to CERN, which is a truly amazing project of global significance, but even more I hope that they appreciate the international spirit of Geneva, which CERN reflects along with the United Nations, the Red Cross, and many other institutions,” said Mr van Dyk, who as Head of Physics has lead four A-level trips to CERN.

Reported by Mr van Dyk, Subject Leader Physics.

 

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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.