International Day of Women and Girls in Science at Heatherton

Today, on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are celebrating the ways in which Heatherton inspires and equips girls to see science as a world full of possibilities. 

This annual day recognises and empowers women and girls to recognise their place within STEM industries. At Heatherton, our all-girls Prep School in Amersham, we understand the power of an environment where girls are encouraged to pursue their passions confidently. 

This week, Year 5 and 6 girls have been exploring their science role models by creating posters to celebrate women in Science. Among those recognised were Marie Curie, Mae C Jemison, Ada Lovelace and Katherine Johnson. This was a great opportunity to reflect on the great female STEM trailblazers before them and to recognise what these women went through to achieve success. Perhaps someday, Heatherton pupils will be writing about their own alumni on these posters! 

At Heatherton, our dedicated science lab allows girls to explore the world of science in a modern and exciting environment. We enjoy a wide range of practical experiments to bring theory to life, and this term, there have been a host of hands-on opportunities in the Heatherton lab: 

As part of Year 3’s English learning, for which the vehicle is ‘The Curious Quests,’ pupils have been excited to learn about different Women in Science, after receiving a letter from one of the characters ‘Lovelace’ named after Ada Lovelace. They were tasked to create an information booklet on their chosen person, and through their knowledge and research they have explored different Women in Science such as Florence Nightingale, Rosalind Franklin, Valentina Tereshkova and Marie Curie and created unique booklets to share with their friends. 

In Year 5, green-thumbed pupils have been learning all about the reproduction systems of plants. Yesterday, each girl took cuttings from one of the lab’s resident spider plants, and will watch to see how it grows clones.  

Year 6 have been learning all about the heart and the circulatory system, using microscopes to make observations about different vessels. In pairs, they took turns to observe the differences between arteries, veins and capillaries.  

While today is an important moment of recognition, our commitment to STEM education extends far beyond a single day. Science is an essential part of everyday life at Heatherton, and we encourage every girl to not only see her potential in the field, but to enjoy the process of discovery and learning. This is how we nurture remarkable, confident individuals who know that the world of science is their oyster!