FOUR hundred pupils from a Bradford school were Polar Explorers for a week of amazing science lessons and activities.

The children from St Matthew’s CE Primary recently took part in a Polar Explorer Week as part signing up to the Polar Explorer Programme.

It started with an assembly at which Deputy Headteacher and Science Leader Nicki Deane introduced the programme and gave a flavour of the special science lessons planned for the rest of the week.

The week helped pupils learn more about engineering, research, biology and the people involved in the Arctic and Antarctic – in particular women. The school wanted its pupils to re-think their view of scientists as “old men in white coats”

The Polar Explorer Programme provided resources which were used in lessons during the week including details about the impending launch of the new research ship RSS Sir David Attenborough. The children were also told about the ship’s state of the art subsea vehicle Boaty McBoatface.

Each school is also assisted by a Polar Ambassador and St Matthew’s is Bryony Turford from the Polar Explorer Programme in York.

On the last day, Mrs Turford came into school to work with children on various science projects.

In the afternoon at an assembly open to parents, children were given an opportunity to display their work in the hall and recreate some of their classroom experiments for parents to try. Parents also took part in a “Design a Boat” activity.

Nicki Deane said: “The Polar Explorer Week was really exciting and a great opportunity for the children to see science in a new light. We will be taking part in other science activities in the coming months as we work towards the PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark) award.”