Spring into STEAM

The Spring Term has seen our co-curricular programme online once again with a variety of clubs from LEGO Stop Animation to Senior Choir finding new ways to engage students virtually. The drive to offer and to access one of the most popular aspects of a Leighton Park education has been notable. As we are unable to be together physically, the desire to connect with one another through favourite hobbies and new activities has been strong. Students from Year 7 to Upper Sixth have been able to access the varied range of co-curricular activities, many of which are focused on one of the School’s core areas of strength: science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths (STEAM).

Mark Budge, Maths teacher and STEAM Co-ordinator, commented “Our mission at Leighton Park is to give every student the opportunity to engage with a STEAM experience. Much more is planned for when life (hopefully) starts to return to normal, but these clubs are a beginning.”

The STEAM clubs aim to offer something for everyone from the intellectual challenges Senior Maths Club, giving a chance for our Sixth Form mathematicians to extend their academic capabilities, to the Eco Schools and Fryer Eco Clubs which offer our Sixth Former and Fryers respectively the chance to make a difference to the world . Year 10s Nature Environment Wildlife Taskforce (NEWTs) has been closely allied to the Eco groups with a focus on ecology whereas those keener on indoor pursuits  in Years 7 and 9 have had fun in Code Club.  Chris Price, Computer Science teacher commented “In Code Club, students engage with projects to develop their programming skills, making their own games and animations. This term, Year 7 students have focused on a ‘Protecting the Planet’ project, where they explored a shark’s habitat and the impact of plastic in the oceans, using coding to learn about the planet and how to protect the environment. Later this term, they will be drawing the routes taken by sea turtles during their nesting time off the west coast of Africa.” Year 9 code club, run by Al Stuart, Computer Science teacher, have been developing their programming expertise using Python, and learning to use important programming fundamentals including methods, reduction of code, and Computational Thinking techniques.

Open to all students, Art and Maths has produced some incredibly beautiful designs revealing the aesthetic through fascinating mathematical phenomena of geometry. Elina and Alice in Year 8 have both created brilliant drawings showing the concept of the Curve of Pursuit and the group have also explored the wonder of Islamic Art. Alice reflected, ” I believe that creativity is the key to innovation, and STEAM is all about designing new solutions and ideas. Creativity is what makes STEAM innovative and sparks new ideas. I like Art and Maths because we have a chance to incorporate two interesting subjects together, with the bonus of a beautiful result!”. Elina added, “I find that Art and Maths is an excellent way to embrace all the creative talents you have, all into one! I find it very inspiring to create such mesmerising patterns and shapes. Creativity is important in STEAM as it allows us to come up with unique ideas and solutions that have never to been invented before.”