National Competitions The Faculty of Science

TheScience Faculty has gone from strength to strength this year with increasing sixth form numbers driving an exciting project to build two new Science labs. The focus on challenge and scholarship continues and the three major sixth form societies attract large audiences and regularly publish impressive journals. 2014 saw an increase in the use of outside speakers, many of whom have been quite inspirational and, of course, the Olavian Lecture Series has featured eminent scientists such as Lord Professor Robert Winston and Adam Rutherford. Students also attended events outside school, with A level Biology students experiencing a fantastic range of lectures at the Institute of Education, Chemistry students attending several lectures at the Royal Institution and a group from Natural Sciences society enjoying Friday evening talks at UCL.

Sixth form students were successful in the national Olympiad competitions for Biology, Chemistry and Physics and, not to be outdone, many Year 10 students gained gold, silver and bronze medals in the national Biology Challenge.

During the Summer activity weeks, A level Biology students returned to Nettlecombe Court Field Study Centre in Somerset to prepare for A level Biology coursework, and lower school pupils enjoyed a range of trip including visits to the Natural History Museum and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

In June, Year 11 Biology students were the first cohort to take the Edexcel Certificate in Biology. We awaited the results with some trepidation and were thrilled that 94% gained A/A* grades with 77% of those grades at A*. This clearly bodes well for the Chemistry and Physics departments who follow suit in 2015. Exam success was notable across all the Sciences at AS and A level and many students were successful in gaining places at Medical Schools and at top universities.

In 2014, we were joined by two schools direct trainee teachers, Dr Ateesh Sidhu and Jeremy Dodds, an old Olavian. Both completed the year successfully and, while Jeremy left to take up a post at Abingdon School, Dr Sidhu was appointed as a Biology teacher from September 2014. We are also joined by Mark Acheson, a newly qualified teacher of Physics. We were sad to say goodbye to Mrs Mary Morinan who retired from St Olave’s in July after 14 years as a Chemistry teacher and Head of Chemistry. However, the good news is that we continue to benefit from her immense commitment and experience as she has agreed to return to St Olave’s to take on a couple of Year 12 classes.

It is a huge privilege, as Head of Science, to oversee such a wealth of talent, commitment and creativity and, as pupil numbers rise, along with the walls of the new Science labs, and exam systems and specifications change, I know that we are well placed to face the many interesting challenges ahead.

Marwood

Biology Field trip 2014

The biology field trip was a fantastic experience. I felt supremely prepared for the trip, particularly in choosing a coursework topic because of the practice studies we had prior to the field trip in lessons. On the first couple of days of the trip, we visited different locations (the rocky shore, an artificial mountain, a nearby pond, meander and river). We were given the opportunity to explore a vast array of options of where we would like to carry out coursework and which species we would like to focus on. We started by practicing various data collection techniques (for example using quadrats and transects) on the artificial mountain. I personally wanted a plant based project so being able to practise before actual data collection day proved valuable. I learnt about the different grass species such as yarrow and buttercups and specific adaptations they have. We also carried out a mini-study investigating the distribution of plant species across the mountain. This was a simple task but yet a great experience and it left me thinking about how I would like to carry out my own pilot study, the length of transact and what species I would like to focus on. On the next day, we visited the rocky shore and carried out a small study on the distribution of plant and animal species (such as seaweed, limpets and periwinkle) as you go offshore. Through this, I learnt about how various species adapt to the varying harshness of the intertidal zone and the importance of having stable conditions to different species. We also went to the Embercombe valley, where we visited a nearby river. Initially we learnt about the geography of river ( such as pools and riffles, how to use equipments needed to work out the velocity of the river and other river variables, working out the discharge of the river and how conditions in the river changes from riffles to pools. We also investigated the distribution of fresh water shrimp using stratified sampling in the pools and riffles, particularly looking at the species diversity in the pools and riffles at 2 sample sites of the river. The day before our pilot study, out teacher showed us around Nettlecombe court where we could carry out our study in and around the site. We visited a nearby pond (where we could vary out a fresh water based project), areas where there has been soil compaction due to trampling (so soil compaction could be an abiotic variable we would consider), woodland area with varying light intensity (for projects based on investigating light intensity and the distribution of a particular species e.g. ground Ivy, the church graveyard where we could investigate how the distribution of lichens is affected by abiotic variables. Some people choose to visit the meander and as a result choose to carry out their main investigation there. The whole experience of the trip was exciting. Through it, I began to both explore and understand ecology, which would be valuable for the A2 biology course.

Rebecca Daramola 13R

Ensuring Excellence

EEX is working hard to attract capital funding, urgently needed for new science laboratories. Bids are in the pipeline with external foundations and further potential donors. Engagement with City firms is providing interview practice and work placement opportunities. Alumni networks should benefit both “old” and current students alike, whilst a regular “Grandparents’ Day” for Y7s to show off their new school to their families. More families, 64%, are donating than ever before, with Gift Aid on top their contributions should exceed £320K p.a. Thank you all for your support: Every Parent Counts!

Biology Olympiad 2014

Congratulations to Year 13s, Caterina Hall, Isabella Inzani, Aarushi Khanna, Uroosa Chughtai and Alexandros Adamoulas, who were awarded Gold medals in the Biology Olympiad, putting them in the top 6.5% nationally. The two highest scorers, Aarusha Khanna and Uroosa Chughtai, have been invited to attempt the 2nd round paper for selection to represent the UK in the IBO in Bali in July.

Natural History Museum Visit – Year 7

During Activity Week 1, Year 7 visited the Natural History Museum, taking the opportunity to learn about many different areas of Natural Science. The students enjoyed exhibits on Earth Science and Human Biology, in addition to the vast collection of animals, birds and insects. The boys travelled on public transport and were congratulated by commuters on their behaviour.

National Biology Challenge

Year 10 Biology students took up the National Biology Challenge in March, sitting two online papers which covered the whole range of Biological Sciences. 43 students were awarded medals with 12 receiving gold medals which placed them in the top 5% of the national cohort. 10 students received silver medals and 21, bronze medals.

Natural Sciences Society

Natural Sciences Society has had an extremely eventful and enjoyable year. With a packed programme of presentations, attendance at UCL lectures and quizzes, not to mention the Olavian Lecture Series, the scientific enrichment at the school has reached unprecedented levels.

As the new presidents of the society (Abhishek Patel, Raunak Rao and Elena Rastorgueva), we have continued to give students the opportunity to write scientific articles, and have published our Spring Term Society Journal. Article topics ranged from the mysterious concept of dark energy to the malnutrition crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are looking to publish our second journal in