This week, thirteen Aysgarth pupils ventured south to Oundle School to take part in an exciting two-day STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) Extension Programme, led by Aysgarth's Head of Art and DT, Mrs Richards.

Following a long journey and a well-earned supper of bangers and mash, the pupils launched straight into their first workshop — a fascinating Biology session known as a ‘Moss Safari’. Here, they explored microscopic life including nematodes and tardigrades, and impressed Oundle’s Mr Langsdale with their knowledge of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.

The following Chemistry workshop took a creative turn, linking Minecraft with real-life chemical principles, including copper extraction and purification. While the pupils enjoyed the challenge, they didn’t hesitate to point out a few scientific inaccuracies in the Minecraft slides — problem-solving and critical thinking in action!

Maths-based teamwork challenges followed, interspersed with a well-earned break for cookies and juice. The afternoon saw the group dive into coding and robotics with Mr Peverley, engaging in some light-hearted robot battles before being welcomed by senior pupils and taken to their accommodation for dinner and evening activities. 

Thursday began with sunshine and a hearty breakfast before pupils explored the Patrick Engineering Centre. A highlight of the day was constructing geodesic domes from newspaper — a task requiring strong teamwork and resilience. Mrs Lowndes commended the Aysgarth pupils for their determination and collaborative spirit.

The final session was a creative Art workshop, where the children created striking mono-printed birds — a fitting end to a varied and inspiring programme.

We are grateful to Oundle School for their warm welcome and enriching workshops, and we look forward to continued collaboration in the future.