A ‘FLOURISHING’ science scheme saw Oxfordshire schools collaborate for a day of laboratory learning.

Oxford High School hosted 66 pupils from primary schools across the county, for a morning of science challenges.

Year 5 pupils joined those at the girls’ school in Summertown on Tuesday alongside special guest, Lord Mayor of Oxford Jean Fooks.

Beakers sloshed with bright liquids, painstakingly measured in with pipettes, as pupils took part in engineering-themed activities.

Science teacher Maria Whittington, who leads the ongoing programme, said: “Oxford High School has a flourishing and well-established STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) outreach commitment.

“The UK’s engineering and manufacturing industry is facing a future skills shortage, and children form ideas of ‘suitable’ careers at a very young age.

“It made sense for us to respond in the community to this challenge, and broaden our outreach to include even more engineering and design activities, and also to offer it to more primary schools.

“Everyone worked together with tremendous energy and focus.”

The science scheme, called JEMS, has staged three events with Oxfordshire schools so far.

Participating schools on Tuesday included Botley School, Church Cowley St James Primary School, Wood Farm Primary School, Langford Village Community School and St Francis CE Primary School.

The event was sponsored by David Wilson Homes, and one of the company’s workers spoke to pupils about persevering with their studying in STEM subjects.

Pupils were mentored by Year 8 Oxford High School students.

Chris Fruin, a teaching assistant at Wood Farm School in Oxford, said: “It was absolutely brilliant.

“The children came back completely full of excitement and ideas – they couldn’t wait to tell everyone what they had been up to.”

The Lord Mayor, a physics graduate, said: “As a scientist myself, I was very pleased to see the children clearly enjoying the challenges set before them in the fields of construction and chemistry.”

The private school in Belbroughton Road is planning another JEMS event in June.