University Challenge for pupils

Young scientists from GLF primary schools will be donning their lab coats ready to do battle for this year’s honours in the popular GLF Schools Science Fair when the final is held at a prestigious university venue later this month.

Pupils from more than 20 GLF schools will be attending the competition finals at the University of Surrey on Wednesday, February 7, when they will be pitting their skills in the subject against their peers.

The event will also host stalls and displays from a range of businesses and organisations involved in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. It is hoped to encourage pupils to develop an interest in the STEM subjects and consider studying them at a higher level or take-up a career in the field

It is the second year the GLF Science Fair has been run between a number of its schools, and last year more than 300 parents also attended the university finals which showcase the pupils’ projects that have been created at home in advance.

Pupils will be unveiling their creations at their own in-school fair when a winner and runner-up are chosen to take their place in the finals organised by the multi-academy trust.

“The first GLF Science Fair Grand Final was a great success. It was fantastic to see more than 200 children from primary schools so engaged and enthused by science,” said Tom Holloway, GLF Primary Science Leader.

“The standard of the children’s projects was incredibly high and it was very hard to pick the winners,” he added.

Last year the winning subjects ranged  from the investigation of friction to the wonderful world of finger prints. Tooth decay and the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks were also among the winning submissions from the children who all worked on their projects at home and with no help from their teachers.

Exhibitors at the finals will offer hands-on activities for pupils and there will also be demonstrations and the chance for them to discover more about potential careers within the sector. Last year the children had the opportunity to do everything from making water filters to learning about ultra violet light - and there will be similar opportunities in February.

This year will see multi-national pharmaceutical company Pfizer join the science fair and Professor Jim Al Khalili (pictured), of the university will be also giving a talk, as he did during last year’s inaugural event. He is a theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster who also works with BBC radio and television and is a frequent commentator.