Member Article

British Science Association honours Bothal kids

Talented Year 8 students at Bothal Middle School in Ashington are celebrating after receiving special awards from the British Science Association for their scientific research.

This is the first year Bothal students have taken part in the British Science Association’s CREST Awards and the results have been remarkable, with 28 pupils achieving the Bronze Award for their projects.

The Awards are part of a national scheme recognising success, building skills and demonstrating personal achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) project work.

Under the theme ‘Health and Hygiene’, each student undertook a 10 hour research challenge in their own time based on a real-world issue.

Two students; Tara Blyth and Jessica Mather also scooped prizes for their efforts at the recent Big Bang Fair North East for young scientists and engineers. They were named winner and runner-up in the Junior Science and Mathematics Excellence category, and have been specially selected by independent judges to represent the North East at the National Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair in March 2015 at Birmingham NEC.

Nicole Sergeant, STEM learning co-ordinator at Bothal Middle School, part of Ashington Learning Partnership, said: “This is the first year we’ve taken part in the British Science Association’s CREST Awards and Big Bang Fair North East.

“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. Inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers is vital to our economy and society – that’s why initiatives encouraging young people to explore their interest in science and engineering are so important.”

Jessica Mather was awarded the Junior Science and Mathematics Excellence Award for her research project into what age school children lead the fittest lifestyle at the North East Big Bang Fair.

Tara Blyth studied the hereditary and environmental triggers connected to Crohn’s Disease, a subject very close to her heart. She also won the Big Bang Fair North East Personal Achievement Award as well as runner up for the Junior Science and Mathematics Excellence Award.

Colin Wilkinson, who organises the CREST Awards in Northumberland and runs the heats of the National Science & Engineering Competition at the Big Bang Fair North East, said: “For a school and a teacher doing CREST for the first time, Bothal Middle has done extremely well - their entries are exceptionally good, and I am sure that the students will gain an enormous amount from their visit to Birmingham next March. I’m delighted the students have the exciting opportunity to showcase their talent and represent the region at the Big Bang UK Fair - I am sure that the projects we have nominated will stand up well to the judge’s scrutiny.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Maughan, Contributor .