TERRA Nova students rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on with science on May 8.

AstraZeneca’s Dr Nicola Powles-Glover delivered a series of stimulating science workshops across the Pre-Prep at Terra Nova earlier this month, to inspire the school’s young learners and budding scientists.

The nursery theme, ‘Water, Water Everywhere’, looked at the various properties of water and liquids and Dr Powles-Glover was able to create a mini tornado in a bottle, as well as a huge explosion using coke and a mentos mint. Reception looked at creatures that live in water in their ‘Under the Sea’ workshop. Pupils learned how to put a stick through a balloon without popping it and how a mixture of flour and water could take both liquid and solid form.

Year 1 and 2 pupils took part in ‘Molecules and Rain’ workshops, which involved the children clicking, clucking and stamping as they were momentarily transformed into molecules. Head of Early Years and Pre-Prep Rachel Cookson said: “I have no doubt the children went home enthusing about their day, after a simply magical set of demonstrations.

“Dr Powles-Glover certainly painted an exciting picture of science, which will inspire so many of our pupils.”

The workshops come just after Tatton MP George Osborne and Education Minister Elizabeth Truss criticised the lack of scientific education in schools, as few teenagers are studying the subject up to the age of 18.

Science is a huge focus for Terra Nova where specialist science teachers deliver lessons to pupils from the age of seven. The school also boasts two science laboratories and offers an after-school science club.