A SCHOOL in Reading hosted more than 250 children from nearby schools as it promoted science, technology, maths, and the arts.
Leighton Park held STEAMfest, where Year 5 students from seven different schools explored STEAM subjects through interactive activities and hands-on challenges.
Pupils from Southcote Primary, Peppard Primary, New Christchurch Primary, Thameside Primary, Maltman’s Green, Highfield Prep, and Trinity Christian School attended.
Each school split into smaller teams of five students with support from scholars from Leighton Park’s academic and sports departments.
They took part in shelter building, using posts, tubing, rope, and tarpaulin to design structures before their work was put to the test with a hose.
The chemistry department ran a session about transporting aid, using eggs, which needed to be transported with a raft made of marshmallows and spaghetti to sail them.
Lastly, they tackled a challenge to transport water between two buckets using tarpaulin, rope, and sticks, with momentum and forces playing a key part in the problem-solving.
The activities were designed to encourage creativity and imagination while engaging with key principles of science, technology, and mathematics.
The event was aimed at helping pupils to engage with science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) subjects through practical application as part of the school’s interdisciplinary curriculum.
It also encouraged critical thinking, teamwork, and cooperation with other pupils.
Deputy Head of Trinity Christian School Mrs Chrissy Towers said: “I don’t know if the children would have experienced an event like that before- they said it was absolutely amazing.
“The staff did so well; they seemed to have thought of everything, including washing hands stations for sticky fingers.
“The pupils helping were so kind, confident, and fun– all of the staff I met were lovely too.”
Leighton Park’s Deputy Head Academic, Alex Wallace, explained at the event: “Our other aims of today are to get you thinking about problem-solving, working in groups and collaborating with each other, because in the real world skills of teamwork are so very important.”
More information about Leighton park School is available via: leightonpark.com
