Worthing's Chatsmore High School students finish British Science Week with a bang

Chatsmore Catholic High School put on a host of activities and experiments to celebrate the finale of British Science Week on Friday, March 13 - a week before the school closed its doors to all but the children of key workers.

Head teacher, Peter Byrne, said: “I would like to thank our incredible science department who have inspired the whole school community this week, not only through fun and exciting experiments but through visits, lectures and a range of competitions.

"The Harry Potter-themed day and our attempt to register an earthquake were particular highlights that we will all remember.”

Around 180 pupils from local and feeder primary schools were invited to take part in a Harry Potter-themed science day, with an amateur dramatic performance written and performed by staff.

The short play set the scene for three sessions to help uncover the Philosopher's Stone and save it from Lord Voldemort.

Science teacher Mr Bell had been performing science experiments throguhout the week, including the 'whoosh bottle' and 'sugar tree', using Love Heart sweets.

Dr Darren Baskill, from the Physics and Astronomy Department of the University of Sussex, also spoke to some pupils about the real-life applications of physics and astronomy.

Friday was rounded off with an attempt to register seismic activity on a seismometer (a piece of equipment usually used for registering earthquakes) borrowed from the University of London. Each of the school's four houses spent 30 seconds jumping up and down on the playground in an attempt to register their earthquake.

Teresa house celebrated their short-lived victory before being beaten by visiting primary pupils. Everybody then all worked together to see what 1,000 people would do jumping up and down in a concentrated location and recorded some 'magnificent readings'.