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Inspired by the weekend’s fireworks, pupils at the farm tried a colourful experiment with oil, water and food colouring. Some of their jars looked like lava lamps!

Pupils at Lord Gowthorpe’s made 3D poppy wreaths in art and laid them at Dunnington Church to mark Remembrance Day.

Pupils became article detectives in English, using skimming and scanning to find key information in newspaper articles.

Pupils at Lord Gowthorpe’s made their own firework displays on paper, experimenting with paint, straws and glitter.

KS3 pupils explored plant transport and how exercise affects heart rate, while iGCSE Biology students tackled exam questions on circulation and disease.

A look back at last week’s KS3 and iGCSE science: investigating pressure, testing leaves for starch, exploring heart health and building exam confidence.

Pumpkin carving and a Halloween Escape the Paddock challenge brought creativity, teamwork and code-breaking fun to Lord Gowthorpe’s.

What a fantastic week of outdoor adventures at Lord Gowthorpe's! Our students have been making the most of our farm and outdoor spaces, taking part in team games, enjoying time together and developing friendships and communication skills along the way. There was also a special photography challenge, encouraging pupils to get creative and see their surroundings from a different perspective. Armed with cameras and plenty of imagination, students were challenged to capture five

It's been another busy week in Science at Lord Gowthorpe's, with our IGCSE Biology students developing their revision skills and our new KS3 group getting hands-on with an investigation into levers and forces! 🧬 IGCSE Biology: Finding the Right Revision Strategy This week, our IGCSE Biology students continued exploring different revision techniques in preparation for a mini mock examination. We have been working on building a repertoire of revision strategies, encouraging st

There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen on Friday as Group 2 got stuck into their SETPD Making Baked Goods module! This week, students made their own batches of chocolate chip cookies, developing a range of practical skills along the way. They worked on carefully following a recipe, measuring ingredients accurately and using different pieces of baking equipment safely and correctly. Each student independently made their own batch of cookies and had the chance to p

Our students headed outdoors for a scavenger hunt with a difference this week, taking on a series of challenges designed to put their problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills to the test. The activities included find and collect challenges, where pupils had to explore the outdoor area and track down different natural objects. There were also problem-solving tasks, including designing and building mini shelters using natural materials they could find around them. Thi

Our students have made a fantastic start to the autumn term in Maths, getting stuck into plenty of practical, hands-on activities designed to build confidence and fluency with numbers. This term, students have been developing their understanding of place value, including comparing positive and negative numbers, as well as ordering decimals and fractions. Rather than simply working through questions on paper, pupils have been encouraged to explore the numbers practically, disc

Yesterday’s Engage session took us outdoors for an autumn nature scavenger hunt, gathering natural materials ready for our next creative activity, making our very own Natural Wind Chimes! 🌿🎐 Armed with checklists, the students explored the local area looking for autumn treasures including pine cones, twigs, leaves and acorns. Along the way, we spent time looking at the different types of trees around us and identifying some of the natural objects we found. We were particula

Our English lessons have been filled with creativity this week as pupils began planning a descriptive writing project based on a place that is meaningful to them. Rather than simply writing from imagination, pupils have been exploring how professional writers create vivid settings by carefully considering what a reader would be able to see, hear, smell, taste and feel. Choosing a Meaningful Setting One of the most enjoyable parts of the project has been seeing the incredible

Science has been full of practical investigations and exciting challenges this week, giving our pupils the opportunity to explore scientific ideas through hands-on learning. Building the Perfect Xylem Tube Our KS3 pupils began the week with a fast-paced engineering challenge. Working in teams, they had just 60 seconds to design and build the most effective model of a xylem tube using only straws and tape. The aim was to create a structure that was both strong and hollow, capa

This week in our Engage Media session, pupils took their first steps into the world of pixel art and game design using Piskel, a professional sprite creation tool. Working one pixel at a time, pupils designed their own unique 2D gaming sprites while developing creativity, attention to detail and digital design skills. Their fantastic creations included a firing laser, a bouncing ball, an amoeba, Tung Tung Sahur, a character sprite, a scene inspired by The Backrooms, and sever

Yesterday's Engage session was packed with creativity, teamwork and hands-on learning as pupils explored a range of exciting activities. One group challenged themselves to build impressive dens and large freestanding structures, working together to test ideas, solve problems and create designs that were both stable and imaginative. The activity encouraged communication, planning and resilience as pupils adapted their ideas throughout the session. As autumn approaches, another

Last week at the farm, our pupils put their creativity and teamwork to the test by designing their very own Olympic-style sports. Working in small teams, pupils were challenged to use a variety of everyday materials and resources to invent a new sport that would be enjoyable, inclusive and fun for everyone. They worked together to develop the rules, think about the equipment they needed and consider how the game would be played. Once their ideas were complete, each team demon

History has got off to a fantastic start this term, with pupils beginning to explore what history is, why it matters, and how historians investigate the past. During their first week, students learned about the foundations of historical study, discussing important historical events and famous figures to assess their existing knowledge before beginning the subject in more depth. They were introduced to the "5 Ws" of history, asking questions such as Who? What? Where? When? and

This week, pupils and staff at Lord Gowthorpe’s enjoyed their first visit back to the farm after the summer break! It was great to be back, and everyone soon got stuck into the day’s activity, designing and creating obstacle courses for each other to complete. Pupils worked together to come up with different challenges before demonstrating exactly how their courses should be tackled. Once the demonstrations were complete, it was the staff’s turn to have a go, which naturally