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Year 13 Scientists visit CERN at Half term

Twenty Year 13 students experienced a fascinating visit to CERN, Geneva at Half Term. The students reported that they had an enjoyable and informative trip to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, where physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. 

Below you will find some of the comments that the students made on return from their trip, including descriptions of some of the photos in the gallery at the bottom of the page.

“Geneva was a fantastic city to explore, and I particularly found the antimatter factory really interesting. It was great seeing/hearing first-hand the details of particle physics which are so alien to our everyday lives. I feel I’ve learnt a lot from the experience." Paul Ertl.

“The Globe of Science and Innovation is a visitor centre designed to inform visitors about the significant research being carried out at CERN. It is 27 metres high and 40 metres in diameter. Whilst we were there, an exhibit relating to the Big Bang was on show which explained the details behind the theory. I found this attraction extremely interesting and would recommend anyone going to Geneva to visit this fascinating piece of architecture.” Akhil Dhokia. 

"The photo is looking across Lake Geneva from the Marina and the Jet d'Eau. Geneva was a beautiful city and the vastness of the lake, combined with my love of boats, created a stunning view." Ben Constable.

“When Tom Hanks came to CERN he said this about it- ‘magic is not made here, magic is explained’. To me this perfectly sums up CERN, having visited it and seen some of the experiments in progress.  At CERN they are testing and looking for particles that some people thought were made up in science fiction, such as anti-matter.” Matthew Hodgart.

"Geneva was an amazing place filled with culture and memorable landscapes." Rowan Thomas.

Many thanks to all the students who contributed comments and photographs and who  expressed their appreciation to trip leader Mr Van Dyk and his colleagues for such an enjoyable experience. 

Please follow the link below below to learn more about CERN:

https://home.cern/

 

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20th March

Duke of Edinburgh update: A busy month for our pupils

It has been a landmark month for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at the school, with pupils across all year groups pushing their boundaries from the local landscape of Chorleywood Common to the rugged terrain of Scandinavia. The Gold Award cohort has seen an impressive 54 pupils sign up this year, many of whom recently gathered for a specialised food tasting session. This practical workshop allowed the Year 12s to trial various expedition rations, ensuring their packs are filled with both nutritious and palatable fuel ahead of their demanding practice trek through the Lake District this March. Preparation for the Gold Award reached a new peak on 1st March during a comprehensive training day led by Hepworth Adventures. The sheer scale of this year’s ambitions was evident as pupils mapped out diverse routes; 25 participants are currently preparing for the wilds of Otta in Norway, 13 are bound for Poland, and another 13 are focusing on UK-based expeditions, while one pupil prepares for a bespoke kayaking challenge. Under the guidance of Hepworth staff, these pupils fine-tuned their menu planning and equipment lists, ensuring they are fully equipped for the specific demands of the Gold environment and their upcoming qualifying aims in early summer. The spirit of the award is equally vibrant in the younger year groups, with 91 Year 10 pupils recently completing their Silver training day. Guided by a dedicated team of St Clement Danes staff and parent volunteers, the pupils took to Chorleywood Common to sharpen their navigational skills through a series of practical exercises. The day also involved intensive route planning for their qualifying expeditions in May and June, alongside sessions on the logistical challenges of group catering in the wilderness. Meanwhile, the Year 9 Bronze Award continues to see record engagement, with 182 pupils set to undergo their own training day on March 7th. Led by the School of Outdoor, this upcoming session will provide the foundation for their first expeditions, with photos and details of their progress expected to follow soon. Beyond the physical challenges of the trail, the school community recently gathered to celebrate the formal achievements of our participants. The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire presided over a prestigious award presentation, during which he commended the pupils for their resilience and commitment. For those who missed the event, the full presentation slides and the keynote speech have been made available online, documenting a proud chapter in the school’s long-standing history with the DofE program.