Science and Computing

This is an opportunity for anyone from the third year upwards to learn about Astronomy in more detail and to enter for the GCSE exam in the subject if they wish. It is being run through the Abingdon Science Partnership and a number of pupils from other, local schools are also following the course. New pupils should discuss the practical details of taking the GCSE qualification before joining.

An opportunity for 5th Year and L6 Science Ambassadors to help run a weekly science club for children from local primary schools.

There are many opportunities to volunteer as a Science Ambassador for the Abingdon Science Partnership, including primary school science workshops; Science Oxford Saturday Science Clubs; Scout and Guide Science Badge evenings and the Abingdon ATOM Festival of Science and Technology.

More awe and wonder than you can shake a metre stick at. AMP will deliver a guide to the cosmos, you will explore the Universe from its tiniest constituent particles to the evolution of galactic super groups.

Lectures are organised to support work being done in the Biology specification, to extend knowledge of the specification and to give boys an up to date account of current advances in modern biology. Some lectures may also have a more general “Natural History” theme and be open to Middle School Pupils as well.

An opportunity to have another go at some of the practicals required for GCSE chemistry in small groups or individually. You will have the chance to ask any questions about the practicals and perhaps try techniques that are slightly beyond the syllabus. The aim is to improve your confidence in chemistry – and also the quality of your exam answers.

The Chemistry Projects club is an opportunity for students to explore, from an experimental perspective, aspects of chemistry that aren’t normally encountered in school. Previous projects have included ionic liquids, chemiluminescence, antimicrobials, battery storage and the IR spectra of cooking oils.

Joint activity with SHSK

XFMDPNF UP DPEFCSFBLJOH DMVC – Codebreaking Club takes place weekly and teams will be preparing for and taking part in the National Cipher Challenge. This is an annual competition for students across the country to crack ever more complicated ciphers, including simple Caesar Shift Ciphers, Vignere Ciphers and beyond. If you like solving puzzles and reading secret messages then come along – programming and IT skills are a bonus but not necessary.

Explore basic animation and programming, a perfect blend of both computing and artistic aspects of the school. Students are able to work with free, open-sourced software on high-end machines and freely explore and create ideas.

An Abingdon School look at Computer Games. Computer games can be intellectually challenging as well as fun.
NB: This is not simply playing your favourite game.

The Computer Programming activity is intended to provide hands-on experience of the nitty-gritty of computer programming. We use a range of modern programming languages, and develop projects using hardware on which they run. Practical tasks will be undertaken in a dedicated programming environment using the latest interpreted object-oriented languages and application development frameworks.

We support a mixture of students’ own projects and guided investigations into areas covering software, computer science/algorithms and electronics interfacing using Raspberry Pi and Arduino platforms. Examples include smartphone games/apps, real time image capture and processing and even an automatic sudoku solver.

No previous experience is necessary, but an aptitude for logical and analytical thought will be essential. Projects typically run over half a term and are aimed to support the most enthusiastic coders down to those just starting. There is a particular focus on showing students techniques that will help them after Abingdon, be that at university or in the workplace.

Create an Inventory for Computer Science using Flask, Python and MySQL.

Bring along your own programming project and get advice and help.

Expanding on the skills acquired in 3rd Year Engineering Science, 4th and 5th Year students will learn to build circuits using integrated circuits (chips). These more complex circuits will be used to perform various basic functions such as: timing, pulsing and counting – but also more creative functions such as playing music!

This is an activity for anyone interested in investigating environmental issues in a systematic and scientific way by analysing large data sets or researching the evidence about important environmental issues. Example data sets available include the SCAMPA air quality and pollution data collected routinely at schools around Abingdon; remotely sensed imagery of global ice and glacier retreat; weather and climate data and even data sets relating pandemic data to environmental factors. There will be excellent opportunities to apply research and analysis skills and to publish results in the Young Scientists Journal or the Routes journal for young geographers. This activity will cover a wide range of subject areas, from science to geography, statistics and computer science depending on your interests and will be suitable for CREST Science Awards and as part of D of E.

Explore a range of fascinating and diverse concepts in Physics, including an in depth look at the work on CERN and the LHC and how it is furthering our understanding of the Universe.

Think geology is the study of rocks? You’re right. The good news is, rocks are fascinating! This activity is for those in Year 10 (or 9) who would like to work towards taking a GCSE in Geology. It is ideal for those who are interested in the physical processes that shape the Earth, the history of life and rocks. It will require independent work and commitment.

Joint activity with SHSK

This is an opportunity for a small number of sixth formers to act as mentors for a team of younger pupils from partnership schools who are building and racing a Greenpower Challenge electrically powered go-kart. Mentors with an interest in engineering, design or marketing and publicity are needed to help the team. Please see Mr Thomas in the ASP Office in the Yang Science Centre to find out more before signing up for this activity.

A fun introduction to learning to program in Python.

Lower School Lego Mindstorms Club combines programming and engineering/design techniques. Using the Lego Mindstorms technical lego pieces different robots are created and brought to life by using a programmable brick which takes control of its movements. A variety of tasks are set through the year, to stretch and challenge builders to develop their ability to program and problem solve within the Lego Mindstorms environment.

Lower School Science Club is an opportunity for boys to partake in science projects and experiments outside of the curriculum. The boys will have a chance to extend their science knowledge in a fun, hands-on environment.

This is not a science club, this is a club for scientists. You will start with guided CREST Discovery Award projects, taking one or two sessions to complete, but then move on to design and carry out research projects of your own at Bronze Award level or above. Find out more about the British Science Association’s CREST Award scheme on their website, where you can also find project ideas if you haven’t got one of your own yet.

Natural History Club is an opportunity for GCSE and A Level students to undergo some research and experiments that will take them beyond the curriculum. This will change from half term to half term and may be directed by the students. Projects have included: investigating productivity in stick insects, genetics in Drosophila, reaction times in humans – and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. A focus on cross-subject projects and working in a team is strongly encouraged.

Under guidance you will learn the practicalities of building a desktop computer suitable for gaming. We will then network the computers and look at how we can choose, install and play suitable games.

Ever heard of the disappearing spoon? It’s a magic trick that exploits the properties of the element gallium, one of the 118 known chemical elements. The Chemistry Department has commissioned a giant, wall-sized Periodic Table display with an LED back-lit box for each and every element to go on the top floor of the Yang Science Centre. Periodic Table Club is going to turn this into a Periodic Table of the real elements by collecting and displaying as many samples or artifacts (such as disappearing spoons) depicting uses of the elements as we can manage.

A club for students of all ages to work together to investigate problems and theories in Physics. Students will help update the Physics board, displays and invite external speakers in to talk to them. Some students will go on to represent the school in the Physics Brawl competition. The A Level students will be able to lead sessions to talk through interesting concepts to the younger students.

Joint activity with SHSK

Use Minecraft to build and carry out Physics experiments.

Learn to program in C by writing simple games. Prior programming experience is required.

Learn to program in Python.

Joint activity with SHSK

Explore difficult concepts in Physics such as Quantum Physics, Relativity and more. Try out new experiments and make your own investigations.

Learn how to build robots using DT, Electronics and Computer Science. Design and build competition robots.

Design, build and fly model rockets for fun or in competitions. Start by learning the basics of aerodynamics and rocket design with high pressure water rockets and then progress to designing with SpaceCAD and flying black powder rockets built from kits or from scratch to your own design.

Joint activity with SHSK

Train to communicate your love of science through presenting, performing, writing, YouTubing, comic books or any other way you can think of.

This is an activity for anyone from 4th year upwards with a love of science and related subjects, especially those who want to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others in a whole variety of different ways.

Flexible sessions will allow you to work on your own, in small groups or larger teams. Different methods of communicating will be developed to suit your own interests. Some expert help will be available from members of the Abingdon ATOM Festival team, producers of the Young Scientists Journal and Famelab judges among others. You will be supported to develop whichever style of communication interests you most or to develop new ideas of your own.

Real world projects with Abingdon IT. Get into teams and solve a real problem for a customer.