SciTech
Our new SciTech Centre provides opportunities which no other school in the United Kingdom offers.
Pupils involved in the CubeSat project are building a satellite and working with engineers from BAE Systems to launch it into space. Those working on Stan-X are collaborating with Stanford University on an advanced biology research project. Our VEX robotics team represented the United Kingdom at the world championships in America.
SciTech is a world-class facility providing extraordinary opportunities for learning.
Eugene du Toit The Master
The recently opened SciTech Centre at Haileybury ensures that our pupils not only learn science but have the opportunity to becomes scientists themselves.
The new buildings include science laboratories, state-of-the-art IT suites, robotics amenities, Design Technology facilities, a dedicated Research Centre and a VR room. There are also twenty interconnected teaching and seminar spaces and an outdoor courtyard.
The Research Centre is home to international and pioneering research, including the prestigious Stan-X project, which is run in partnership with scientists at Oxford and Stanford Universities. In addition, a space mission is planned to launch a CubeSat into space so that pupils can learn about spacecraft systems engineering, mission planning and orbital mechanics. Pupils benefit from learning from leading industry experts in this mission.
“The SciTech Research Centre allows our pupils to understand what it is to be a scientist. To think and act like a scientist. They undertake research to which they do not know the answer.
We are shifting from a teacher-led demonstration model to a collaborative approach, where pupils work together to conduct research and explore key scientific questions.
This facility engenders a spirit of openness and inquiry; it is a space in which pupils can synthesise and fuse their learning, collaborate on hypotheses, and become brave learners.”
Gareth Lewis, Head of STEM Research
CubeSat
The Haileybury CubeSat programme unites pupils from across year groups to design, build and launch a miniaturised satellite, providing hands-on experience in spacecraft engineering, mission planning, programming and orbital mechanics.
Using SciTech’s advanced 3D printing facilities, pupils design and prototype their CubeSat while maintaining professional documentation and sharing progress with the wider community. Supported by an industry partnership with BAE Systems, the project
offers invaluable real-world insight into space technology and engineering. Led by Sixth Form Project and Engineering Managers, this ambitious, multi-year mission exemplifies teamwork, innovation and leadership in action.
Stan-X
Stan-X is a pioneering genetics research programme that gives Haileybury pupils the opportunity to work with scientists from Stanford University to help find cures for diseases such as pancreatic cancer and diabetes. The first initiative of its kind in Europe, it enables Sixth Form pupils to investigate the genetic processes behind human diseases using fruit flies as model organisms, which share around 75% of disease-causing genes with humans. Working in Haileybury’s state-of-the-art SciTech laboratory, pupils contribute data to global research projects, with their findings published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international scientific conferences.
Haileybury’s cutting-edge VEX Robotics programme offers pupils an exciting opportunity to explore robotics through hands-on design, engineering and programming. Combining elements of Maths, Physics, Computer Science and Design Technology, the programme fosters creativity, teamwork and problem-solving while preparing pupils for the rapidly evolving world of technology.
In 2025, Haileybury pupils proudly represented the UK at the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas, following their debut success at the VEX IQ Nationals. The experience showcased their teamwork, innovation and determination, inspiring a lasting passion for robotics and engineering excellence across the School.
VEX Robotics
STEM research in learning
Hands-on STEM research is woven into the curriculum to ignite curiosity and deepen pupils’ understanding of science through practical learning. In Year 9, pupils work collaboratively to explore scientific principles by taking on challenges such as boiling
the perfect egg, developing teamwork, experimental design and analytical skills. In Year 10, they build on this foundation through seminars and lectures that introduce cutting-edge research, culminating in the creation of academic-style research posters.
This investigative approach nurtures critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, equipping pupils with the skills to meet future scientific challenges with confidence.
Arduino Club
Haileybury’s Arduino Club inspires the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators through hands-on exploration of electronics, programming and autonomous systems. In the school’s state-of-the-art Engineering Room, pupils gain practical experience in constructing circuits, programming microcontrollers and designing real-world solutions for sustainability and automation. Recent projects have included self-watering plant systems, sound-activated lamps, robotic arms and a model of the solar system, all developed using 3D printing and Arduino technology. The club fosters creativity, problemsolving and teamwork, empowering pupils to turn ideas into innovative engineering achievements.
EcoMap
Haileybury’s innovative EcoMap project empowers pupils to engage in hands-on ecological research while using cuttingedge technology to map the rich biodiversity across our campus and surrounding areas. Through standardised survey techniques, pupils gather data on birds, mammals and other species, which is continuously integrated into an interactive digital map that tracks seasonal changes and long-term trends. Focused this term on bird surveys, the project deepens environmental awareness and supports sustainability, alongside wider efforts such as tree planting and wildflower sowing. The EcoMap initiative fosters a greater understanding of local ecosystems and inspires the whole school community’s commitment to conservation.
Greenpower
Haileybury proudly takes part in the Greenpower project, a national initiative that inspires young people to explore science and engineering through the design, construction and racing of electric cars. Guided by the Greenpower Education Trust, which engages over 10,000 students across the UK and beyond, our pupils are preparing for their first official race by developing and refining key vehicle components, from safety features to aerodynamic design. The project gives pupils hands-on engineering experience, encourages teamwork and promotes environmental awareness, while helping to address the UK’s growing STEM skills gap.
Drinkable Rivers
ISSB Engineering Project
The Senior Engineering Society at Haileybury is leading an innovative project that combines practical engineering with sustainability by constructing a structure using Interlocking Stabilised Soil Block (ISSB) technology. Inspired by the work of the Haileybury Youth Trust in Uganda, which trains communities in eco-friendly construction, pupils are learning climate-resilient building methods that reduce deforestation and carbon emissions. The project provides valuable engineering, problem-solving and project management experience while reinforcing Haileybury’s commitment to environmental responsibility and global citizenship.
Haileybury is proud to be part of the Drinkable Rivers citizen science programme, establishing a dedicated hub to monitor and protect the health of the River Lea. This global initiative combines volunteering, STEM learning and sustainability, giving pupils realworld experience in environmental research and stewardship. The project reflects Haileybury’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and inspires pupils to become informed, responsible guardians of the natural world.
