Haileybury: Where innovative programmes and partnerships elevate science beyond the classroom

At Haileybury, we are dedicated to providing our pupils with a world-class education that nurtures their talents, inspires their thinking and teaches them the skills and knowledge to thrive. We live and breathe this ethos in every facet of school life, including within our science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) provision. We know that STEM subjects and associated critical thinking are becoming ever more central to the current and future workforce, and we want to equip our pupils to participate and lead on these many exciting opportunities. 

We have therefore launched a series of STEM research programmes designed to bring science to life and rival those at the highest levels of academia and industry. Each programme is in partnership with a recognised national or international organisation and is constructed to inspire and challenge our pupils, connecting them directly with experts and providing them with the knowledge and skills to achieve brilliant careers. 

Our space mission 
One of our innovative STEM programmes is our space mission, in partnership with BAE Systems. Thirty of our pupils aged 12 to 18 are working together to design and launch a mini satellite, known as a CubeSat, into space. 

Our pupils plan to install an optical camera inside the CubeSat to record essential information from space on the impacts of global warming, including deforestation and wildfires. They will then analyse this data to support worldwide efforts to protect the planet from climate change. If successful, our pupils will become the first school in Europe to achieve the successful launch of a CubeSat.

So far, our pupils have designed and created a 3D model, using the school’s 3D printing facilities; performed calculations to predict the orbital trajectory and lifetime of the CubeSat; conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the components that could be used; and researched signal processing, working with BAE to bring their vision to life. 

Our partnership with BAE is a vital part of this programme as their experts deliver monthly lectures to our pupils on technical aspects of spacecraft systems engineering, including satellite computing and using solar energy. They also provide feedback, challenge, support and real-world insight throughout the programme. 

This research supports and inspires our pupils with interests in engineering, physics and mechanics by bringing science to life. We also hope that through this project, we will develop best practice for space education and create a model that schools around the world can use to provide similar opportunities for their pupils. 

Our Stan-X project 
Another one of our leading STEM programmes is the prestigious Stan-X project, delivered in partnership with scientists at Stanford University in the US. Our sixth form pupils are undertaking a revolutionary study of genetics utilising high-tech microscopes to identify phenotypic markers in Drosophila melanogaster (otherwise known as fruit flies). The aim is to understand the genetic processes that drive human diseases, with the results obtained at Haileybury feeding into efforts to find cures for pancreatic cancer and diabetes. 

Haileybury is the first school outside the United States to participate in Stan-X. So far, research findings have been co-authored by 16 Haileybury pupils and former pupils, as well as instructors, and have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal G3: Genes, Genomes and Genetics, investigating gene and tissue function. 

This special partnership with professors from Stanford University means our pupils work directly with researchers at the forefront of their field by hosting in-person seminars on academic research papers, as well as providing weekly input to the running of the programme. 

Bringing science to life 
By connecting pupils with leading academic institutions and industry partners and providing them with the opportunity to conduct meaningful, relevant research that has real-world impact, we ensure STEM is brought to life and our pupils experience the value it adds to society. 

Over the last three years, more than a third of Haileybury pupils have progressed to study STEM-based degrees, with 75% of the Stan-X pupils among them choosing to study STEM at university. They have gone on to some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including Columbia University in New York and UCL in London. This far surpasses the national average of 26%, showcasing the exceptional foundation programmes such as this provide for aspiring scientists and innovators.