Hatfield schoolgirls have a go at maggot racing

Pupils and staff at a Hatfield school were over the moon after receiving a large donation to support their Biology Week activities, which included maggot racing.

As part of Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School Biology Week, Dr Alison Bune, head of Key Stage 3 science and biology, challenged her sixth form scientists to build a large model of DNA.

Dr Bune contacted Amazon to see if they would be willing to donate a kit and was delighted when the online store donated £1,500.

Amazon employees visited the school on Wednesday, October 11, and met the sixth form pupils who built the model, as well as younger girls taking part in lunchtime biology-related activities such as creating origami animals and learning all about bats.

The week, which focused on biodiversity and endangered animals, also featured maggot racing where pupils learned about their life cycle and how clever they are at following the scent of food.

Art and biology departments joined forces to allow the girls to make an endangered animal out of Lego and/or pompoms.

Members of the Science club enjoyed a visit by ‘Animalistic’ when they got to see and hold many exotic animals including a boa constrictor, tarantula, pigmy hedgehog and armadillo.

Last Wednesday a bat specialist from Warebats also talked to Year 8 pupils about bats and their conservation.

Dr Bune said: “I was overwhelmed by Amazon’s support.

“As a school, we are dedicated to promoting science education for girls and therefore often organise science events outside the classroom which focus on various aspects of the curriculum.

“We also join forces with other faculties to illustrate cross curricular links.”