Able Pupils
Lego workshop
During June, the group took part in an interactive Lego workshop led by STEM coordinator Mr Malcolm Thomas. After familiarising themselves with the apparatus, pupils’ worked in small groups to construct and motorise vehicles with the purpose of testing their speed and accuracy.
The group learnt to work as a team in a competitive and creative environment, whilst problem solving and developing their communication skills.
Thirteen students from year 11 recently took part in a statistics workshop in Cardiff University, hosted by the Department of Social Sciences in conjunction with the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods (WISERD). Whilst evaluating data gathered from a selection of students at Mountain Ash, the specific task was to analyse the qualitative and quantitative data gained in a variety of mathematical ways. Pupils’ also had the opportunity to listen to lectures from Professor Malcolm Williams, Director of Cardiff School of Social Sciences and Sociology lecturer, Dr Sin Y Cheung.
In September, the Able Pupils Group visited Cardiff University’s Engineering and Chemistry departments.
Within the School of Chemistry, pupils’ spent time undertaking various experiments involving an investigation into spectrometers. They were also given the opportunity of seeing the departments’ unique £1.5million multi-faceted spectrometer-microscope.
Later, they went to the School of Engineering to meet Professor Adrian Porch who guided them through the task of making a direct current electric motor, a device that converts electrical work into mechanical work.
On Thursday 14th March the year 7/8 Able Pupils group and their parents/guardians took part in a visit to Cardiff University. pupils and parents were given a guided tour of many of the university’s departments and facilities, by Innovations Officer and
lecturer Dr. Ian Jones, and spent time gaining an insight into university life. The trip was concluded by a visit to the Cardiff Story Museum where pupils’ learnt about the history of Cardiff City and were able to take part in many interactive activities.
This term, Year 10 pupils Kelsey Morgan, Shauna Nelson, Joshua Bines, Rhys Mills and Saima Tabassum attended several
Royal Institution Mathematics Masterclasses at Glamorgan University, aimed at mathmatically able students who had an interest in exploring mathematics outside of school.
Pupils’ attended Saturday morning classes for several weeks and spent time in small groups on interesting and challenging mathematical problems.