Essex Schools Showcase Groundbreaking Projects at New Hall School’s Inaugural Science Fair

On Wednesday 25 June, New Hall School in Chelmsford hosted its inaugural Science Fair, a spectacular event that brought together 60 bright young minds from Collingwood Primary School, New Hall School, The Bishops’ CofE and RC Primary School, and Ursuline Preparatory School.

In a day full of scientific discovery, ahead of presenting their projects to pupils and teachers, participants explored interactive stalls, engaging with hands-on experiments and cutting-edge demonstrations. The dynamic rota of activities captivated students and visitors alike.

At a fascinating hands-on stall hosted by Colchester Zoo, students delved into the wonders of animal behaviour and conservation. Animals from the New Hall Farm & Outdoor Centre for Natural Sciences brought a smile to everyone’s faces, while Miss Wolfgrin, the Farm Manager, deepened their understanding of biology and ecology.

While representatives from the Imperial War Museum helped students understand the science of flight at their interactive exhibit, teaching them awe-inspiring facts about aircrafts and aerodynamics, a mind-bending VR experience transported pupils to new worlds.

New Hall’s own Teachers of Science ran interactive Chemistry, Biology and Physics exhibits, including rocket launching, an ‘active crime scene’ investigation, and a laboratory of wonders with thrilling experiments.

Following an educational morning, the air buzzed with anticipation as students unveiled a total of 28 innovative projects. From ‘the science of jelly wobbling’ and ‘the reason behind volcano eruptions’, to research on ‘best toothpastes’ and the ‘effect of music on short term memory’, the range of topics was impressive.

“Today was so exciting! I spent weeks preparing my project, and I presented it to so many students and teachers. I especially liked the VR experience and being a crime scene investigator for a morning,” enthused a visiting Year 5 pupil.

The Judges’ Awards were presented to Oliver and Ariana from Ursuline with their project entitled ‘Do birds eat more food from a certain colour feeder?’, and Oscar and Griffin from The Bishops’ Primary with their project ‘Does the flavour of gum affect its longevity?’ The Pupils’ Choice Award went to Elisa, Grace and Stella from New Hall School for their project entitled ‘Does homemade cake taste better than store bought?’

“The Science Fair was a vibrant celebration of curiosity, creativity, and community collaboration. The judges were left in awe of the depth of research, creativity, and passion on display, each project a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of these young scientists,” commented Ms Helen Moore, Science Lead for the Preparatory Divisions at New Hall School.

With an excellent turnout and unforgettable experiences, New Hall School’s teachers are already looking ahead to next year’s Science Fair, where they hope to host even more young scientists.