Royal Institution Masterclasses are a series of hands-on interactive sessions aimed at opening children’s eyes to the excitement of Mathematics and Engineering.
Our Ri Masterclasses are designed to nurture students’ curiosity – inspiring them to continue their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) engagement into the future. Students regularly meet new speakers and volunteers who give them career insights and support to understand the universal nature of STEM subjects, there’s something everyone.
Run from our state-of-the-art STEM Centre, our March Masterclass saw pupils from our Prep School, plus schools from our local community and outreach programme take part:
- Glebe Primary School
- Priestmead Primary School
- Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
- Eastbury Farm
- Greenfields Primary School
Guest speakers from The Royal Institution ran the first and last sessions, and our own Sixth Form students (around 25) delivered the other 4. Our Sixth Formers were coached for their leadership and teaching role by professors from The Royal Institution and Royal Academy of Engineering, who spent the day at St Helen’s. Four, Year 5 pupils from each school took the Maths Masterclass and four, Year 4 pupils from each school took part in the Engineering Masterclass. During our themed Masterclasses, every student can make meaningful progress in their own learning journey, and we enjoy seeing pupils collaborating and encouraging each other.
Year 12 student, Anchanaa spoke about her motivation for joining :
If someone were to ask me why I initially signed up, my answer would be, to help me boost my personal statement, or to add to my LinkedIn profile. Looking back, I have gained so much more than just another tick on a checklist.
Anchanaa enthused that while the day ran smoothly, for Year 12s who were presenting, there were plenty of obstacles, complexities and challenges that not only had they not anticipated, but that taught them so much about problem solving, collaboration and thinking on your feet. One of the roles for the presenters was to energise an initially reluctant group, and by the end of the session, not only did the younger pupils begin to pull out their dance moves, but they came out of each session buzzing with energy and excitement at their new-found knowledge. Summing up her experience, Anchanaa felt certain that they all left the session with a stronger appreciation for the vast number of uses of STEM subjects in society.
