Students and staff from across Meridian Trust recently came together to participate in the annual Key Stage Three Science Festival. This year’s projects had a strong emphasis on climate and environmental science – an area of growing importance for both the curriculum and students’ futures.
Held at Sawtry Village Academy, the event brought together young scientists from across the Trust. Secondary schools were represented by two teams each; all of whom had already demonstrated excellence by winning at their school-based science fairs. At this trust-level science festival, students showcased climate science-focused investigations that tackled real-world challenges, and encouraged the application of rigorous scientific thinking to issues that matter locally and globally.
Throughout the morning, students confidently presented their projects through posters, demonstrations and discussion. Judges and peers circulated the hall, asking probing questions about methodology, accuracy, variables, conclusions and evaluation, prompting rich scientific dialogue and thoughtful reflection on how climate data is gathered and interpreted.
A panel of expert judges included representatives from the Environment Agency and the Sangar Institute, alongside senior science leaders from across Meridian Trust. Feedback from the judges highlighted both the high scientific quality of the projects and the confidence with which students explained complex ideas and responded to challenge.
James Brown, Curriculum Director of Science said,
“The Science Festival brings together our winning school teams to showcase their exceptional work. It’s inspiring to see students’ enthusiasm and hear the depth of their knowledge around their chosen project. This year’s festival has been a celebration of scientific excellence, creativity and teamwork amongst our students. Beyond certificates and trophies, the true success of the day is that students from across the Trust see themselves as young climate scientists – working collaboratively, engaging in informed debate, and taking pride in rigorous scientific enquiry.”
“Events such as the Science Festival are a cornerstone of Meridian Trust’s commitment to enriching the curriculum, developing strong climate and environmental literacy, and raising aspirations beyond the classroom. Our sincere thanks go to our guest judges, the teachers who supported and prepared students, and the Sawtry Village Academy site and support teams whose efforts made the event run so smoothly. We are incredibly proud of all the students who took part and the scientific excellence on display across the trust.”
Award winners from the event were:
1st Place – Ely College
The winning team impressed judges with a brilliant investigation into bioplastics made from banana skins, including the design, creation and testing of working prototypes. Their project combined environmental relevance, technical skill and clear scientific reasoning.
2nd Place – Greater Peterborough University Technical College (GPUTC)
A beautifully presented and well-explained project investigating shell erosion, demonstrating strong understanding of environmental processes and careful evaluation of results.
3rd Place – Northstowe Learning Community
A fantastic team who proposed a novel method of electrical generation using piezoelectric flooring, showcasing creativity, ambition and secure scientific principles.
Student Choice Award – Sharnbrook Academy
Awarded for a confident and articulate discussion of their project on ocean acidification, with students demonstrating excellent subject knowledge and clarity of explanation.
The festival concluded with judge presentations and awards celebrating excellence, creativity and teamwork.