'Science is always high up the agenda at our school'
Pupils of all ages have been getting stuck into a variety of STEM activities this British Science Week, writes Isabella Hitchen from The Buchan School.
British Science Week is being celebrated in style on the beautiful Isle of Man! King William’s College and The Buchan School, the only independent school in the self-governing British Crown Dependency, is involved in a suite of activities to mark this important week.
On Wednesday, Year 6 pupils attended STEMFest at the Villa Marina in Douglas, the island’s capital. Organised by Business Isle of Man, the event brought together a wide range of companies from across the island to host interactive workshops designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Throughout the day, the pupils explored different aspects of STEM through engaging activities and demonstrations led by industry professionals. The festival was divided into three main areas: engineering, construction & manufacturing, technology & maths, and a dedicated science zone. Pupils took part in hands-on building challenges and problem-solving tasks, including working with pupils from other primary schools to build a model bridge. They also explored the power of artificial intelligence and learned about simple mechanisms found in everyday household items, such as kettles. The children were enthusiastic participants, getting fully involved in the activities and gaining a deeper understanding of how STEM skills are used in real-world careers.
The older students have been getting involved in British Science Week too. Years 7 and 8 are combining British Science Week with International Women’s Month, researching the life and work of a female scientist and presenting to their class. Year 9 are in training to defending their position as HMC NW STEM Olympics champions in June having been triumphant in the 2025 event. Years 10 and 11 have just completed the Junior Chemistry Challenge and are awaiting the results. Year 12 will have the Young Analysts competition which will take place at the start of the summer term.
In general terms, science is always high up the agenda at King William’s College and The Buchan School by dint of the International Baccalaureate curriculum in sixth form, which has at least one science as a required subject. Our Nobel prize-winning former student William Henry Bragg would be proud of the place that science still occupies at KWC and The Buchan.
