2018 Spring Term

Five days, thirteen events, over 750 members of the St Mary's and St Margaret's communities involved and one teddy launched to nearly 33km into near space! Thank you to the science teaching team and technicians for making Science Week such a success and to you all for taking part in the events.

On Thursday, 15th March the Sixth Form Biologists attended a lecture by Dr Ingrid Slade, who co-founded the Centre for Personalised Medicine at the University of Oxford.

The retirement of Simon Knight as Chair of Governors at St Mary’s Calne and St Margaret’s Preparatory School after eleven distinguished years as Chair and twenty-one years as a Governor was announced today.

On 17th March, having peeked at the weather forecast and dismissed the snow warnings (for surely, it’s nearly summer?) we wrapped up warmly anyway – and we were certainly glad that we did!

After our classes on Wednesday 14th March, we had a wonderful presentation about the REME, which stands for the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

The morning of 16th March saw the last of our British Science Week celebrations with the annual Great Science Bake Off.

As part of the MIV (Year 8) Biology curriculum, the girls learn about how plants reproduce. Mr Vince Pennock very kindly came into their Biology lesson this week to demonstrate and explain how gardeners are able to propagate their plants.

On Wednesday 14th March, girls from LVI and UVI (Years 12 and 13) had a fantastic experience at Bristol University ChemLabs.

Fizzing fruit, ice cream and popping candy were the highlight of the Dry Ice Workshop held several times this week for any Fourth Form students wishing to attend.

'The best thing I’ve ever seen!' was just one of the lovely comments that the children from Fynamore Primary School said about Dr Stan Fowler’s Chemistry demonstration lectures, given as part of British Science Week.

On the evening of Tuesday 13th March, we were privileged to welcome Professor Dame Carol Black as our Keynote Speaker for British Science Week. She is currently the Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge and has been President of the Royal College of Physicians and of the British Lung Foundation, amongst a whole host of other positions throughout her hugely varied career.

Amongst other milestones and having discovered Uranus, everyone knows what Sir William Herschel stands for in the world of astronomy. But as a composer? Interestingly, he spent a large part of his life as a professional musician and amateur astronomer, and held several musical director and organist positions in Bath.