Monkwearmouth Academy Science Club

The primary use of a £250 grant from the Bright Ideas Fund would be to enrich the learning opportunities of our existing KS3 Science Club and Science Ambassador Group. Both the Club and the Group, which have been in existence for two years, operate on an extra-curricular basis, without specific funding from the Academy. The main focus of the club is to prepare models and displays to be used in Science competitions, both in-school and at city- wide events. Last year Y7 and Y8 students prepared materials for an in-school Science Fair using very limited resources such as paper, card and general laboratory equipment. Even with limited resources, four Y7 girls won the in- school event and then went on to win the inter-school ‘ Physics is Fun’ event organised by the Ogden Trust and hosted by Sunderland University. More resources funded by a grant would enable students to produce more innovative displays and models in order to make them more competitive at future events.

Projects currently being prepared include a ‘Black Hole’ model, mobile phone holograms, Geophysics, uses of solar cells and preparing an entry for the world wide ‘Welcome to the Moon’ youth SciArt competition.

Last year ten of our Y7 girls attended a Science Ambassador training event at Durham University, organised by the Institute of Physics. One aim of this scheme is encourage out-reach activities involving local primary schools. Bright Ideas funding would help provide more interesting resources for these primary events.