Portsmouth High School GDST case studies (11)

Impact of partnership work done in 2023 (ISC annual Census 2024)

• 10 state schools involved
• 51-100 state school pupils involved
• 50 staff hours given

Impact Statement

Fun on Saturday, Spring term 2020, 6 week programme, 7 schools. The key objectives for the programme are:

• To support Year 5 able, gifted and talented girls in local junior schools in a manner that extends the curriculum opportunities available whilst allowing them to take part in initiatives that provide stretch and challenge.

• To enable children to acquire different skills and thus enhance their confidence in support of improving their academic performance, thereby raising their attainment.

• To enhance the pupils’ motivation through engagement in new and novel activities.

• To raise aspirations amongst the girls and to encourage them to look at learning destinations beyond their current experiences thereby improving their social mobility.

• We have run this programme since 2014, with Head teachers and teachers observing a significant increase in learners’ personal confidence as demonstrated during the presentation morning at the end of the programme.

Impact Statements - why did you enjoy the programme?: 

- At school we don’t get to do such interesting things as this – been a pleasure to take part
- All because they were fun and creative
- Made me co-operate with other children.
- Because it was challenging and I didn’t think I could do it at first but it was really good at the end
- Science because we did things we’ve never done before.
- Loved feeling like a scientist and making rock salt.
- Science because we do not normally get to use real science resources
- Science because we did fun experiments
- Science because it was particularly interesting obtaining the natural resources and making rock salt.
- Fun experimenting with Bunsen burners but challenging!
- Art because we could design own shields.
- Art because I really like drawing
- Art because now I know how to use different supplies
- Geography because we could design our own country.
- Learnt A level maths
- Maths because it was fun using calculators
- English because I liked starting to write a speech
- English because I enjoyed learning about inside the Houses of parliament
- Liked English because it helped me learn about democracy and public speaking.

Isle of Wight STEM Challenge, 1 day, October 2019, 10 schools. The key objective for the programme was: To support Year 5 and 6 girls from a wide range of IoW primary schools in a STEM activity. Impact statements from teachers:

‘What did the children gain and did it meet your expectations’? Fun, enjoyed working well as a team despite being quite independent workers. They learnt what STEM means; they checked through the list of tasks and activities, was a super experience for them and am sure their confidence has increased talking in public. Some who said they would not join in with presentations, did. Was fun and our children were more confident; worked together and listened to each other; well worth coming to. Resilience; bonding, met over and above the expectations. All quickly learnt to pull together in one direction to complete the task; lovely to see girls discuss their friends talents’ and skills as a year group; they’ll remember this for a long time and hopefully this will transfer to all curriculum areas. Confidence in working together and accepting when ideas were ‘voted down’. Confidence in presenting their design; learnt about what makes a good business along with what to do and what not to do when it comes to designing. Understood design and what works and how to change things that didn’t work; understanding of different elements of design; teamwork. Combined ideas so each child had some input; they had good fun making their monorail. They were really proud of the end product and each person contributed to the final talk.