Science Week inspires LVS Ascot students to take action on plastic pollution

Junior school pupils with STEM ambassador Adrian Topham

Students’ eyes were opened wide to the damage being done to the environment at LVS Ascot’s Science Week from Monday 12th–Friday 16th March. The independent all-ability school inspired students with a range of high profile visitors to demonstrate the importance of tackling plastic pollution, and integrated the content across a range of other subjects.

From Reception Class to Year 13, students enjoyed a programme of events including presentations from Sky Ocean Rescue, civil engineering company Costain, Shorts recycling and Ecover. Sky Ocean Rescue hosted a workshop where Year7 to 9 students devised innovations to tackle plastic ocean waste. The lucky students will now visit Sky to film pitches for their ideas, and all students watched a screening of the thought provoking Sky Ocean Rescue documentary, ‘A Plastic Whale’ in the LVS Ascot theatre.

A representative from Ecover visited Year 10 and 11 students to look at plastic waste issues and how the company is helping to provide alternative products. An eye-opening trip out saw a group of Year 7 to Year 10 students visit Oakleaf at Stanwell Moor, a new state of the art facility which converts waste which would normally be sent to landfill into SRF, a fuel used in industry. The trip was organised by Shorts Group Ltd, LVS Ascot’s waste management company. In addition, a whole school survey helped the school find out its plastic waste footprint and saw staff, students and parents make pledges to reduce their plastic waste.

LVS Ascot’s innovative approach to Science Week involved integrating related cross-curricular activities into other subjects and lessons. From English to Geography, Languages to Maths students looked at plastics from every angle, discovering the many fantastic uses and examples of plastics available. Activities included the launch of a reusable container initiative in food technology lessons, making pinhole cameras from single use plastic items in art and photography and looking at ethical and philosophical issues around plastic use in Philosophy.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassador Adrian Topham visited the Junior School to provide an enlightening talk, whilst the benefit of being an all-through was demonstrated by a number of exciting sessions in the senior school science laboratories for Junior pupils.

LVS Ascot Head of Science Sarah Catlin said: “‘The topical theme of the week has really permeated all areas of the school. The students have really engaged with the issues presented by both our teachers and the external speakers who have given their time so generously. We now hope to use the week to review the way we use plastic in school and make a difference with our actions”.