Norton Hill Primary School have been working hard to stand out in our local community by writing their own STEM curriculum over the past few months. 

Norton Hill Primary School outlined what STEM (educating students in four disciplines; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) means to them: “As a school we believe that STEM fosters creativity, teaches collaboration and integrates other disciplines alongside.

“This term the children have been focussing on careers gained from a STEM education, preparing the children to have varied interests and to move into industry and be successful. Whether that be a Biologist, Ecologist, Meteorologist, Zoologist, Marine Biologist, Geneticist, Physicist or Astronomer. There are so many more careers that can be derived from STEM and we feel it is important to teach our children about them all. 

“Our STEM education teaches the children more than just Science and Mathematical concepts. We focus on hands on learning with real world application. This builds on the many other skills attained through STEM and includes problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision making, leadership and acceptance of failure. Regardless of the future career path that our children take, these skill sets will go a long way to prepare them to be innovative.

“We are committed to our STEM curriculum and as a new Independent School in the community of Midsomer Norton, we are committed to enabling our children to become the next innovators and inventors of tomorrow and to firmly putting ourselves on the map!

“We have a dedicated STEM room and have adapted our curriculum to ensure our Science, Design and Technology and Geography are linked to STEM with themes of learning such as Migration Challenge; exploring the world with migratory birds, understanding why birds migrate, where they travel and what challenges they face on the way. Through this the children also learn about binoculars and how they work and who invented them. They also utilise their Design and Technology skills by building bird tables, and researching adventurers. 

“Through Plastic Planet- the children discover the causes and effects of plastic pollution and why it is such a problem for wetlands and what we can do to help. The children design and make animal feeders for both above and underground and make shopping bags from old clothing. 

“Our children also learn to be Climate Champions by exploring climate change, researchers by discovering why water is important to life on earth and their role in cleaning water and flood prevention and so much more. 

“We have now adapted our curriculum to incorporate the importance of Physics, there is so much variation within the role of a physicist because they study the universe and everything else in it!”

“Our STEM room will now house a variety of ingredients to research and learn about the studies behind liquids, gases and solids. The children and staff are extremely excited to see our STEM facilities really come to life.”