Pupils explore the universe in intergalactic Star STEM Challenges
The talented winners of the prestigious Star STEM Challenge competitions have been announced.
At the beginning of June, Star Academies launched its Star STEM Challenge competitions to inspire pupils across all 28 of its schools.
The Challenges gave pupils the opportunity to immerse themselves in science and explore the world around them. The competitions were split into four age categories for pupils at its primary and secondary schools.
Pupils in Reception and Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) took part in a bug hunt to discover the world of creepy crawlies and insects. Key Stage 2 pupils (Years 3 – 6) explored the universe as they prepared for an adventure to the International Space Station. Secondary school pupils were challenged to create a model or toy to explain a scientific concept, using nothing but recycled materials.
Hundreds of young scientists from across the country entered the competition, which provided pupils with a fun focus to help foster positivity during lockdown. Judges were impressed by the quality of the entries which they said demonstrated a high level of ingenuity and learning.
After much consideration, the judges selected three winners in each age category from among the hundreds of entries.
First prize in the Reception and Key Stage 1 category was awarded to Zayneb Kherrab from The Olive School, Hackney. Zayneb impressed judges with her wonderful investigation into the world of bees. She created a lovely story all about bees and nectar and was awarded an Outdoor Explorer Kit in recognition of her wonderful effort. Second prize, of a Bug Safari Kit, went to George Foster from The Olive School, Bolton and third prize, of a My First Big Book of Bugs, was awarded to Alya Khan from Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy.
KS1 winner, Zayneb, impressed judges with her wonderful investigation into the world of bees.
Star judge, astronaut Helen Sharman had the unenviable task of selecting the prize winners in our Key Stage 2 space adventure challenge. Helen Sharman, who was Britain’s first astronaut and the first woman to visit the Mir Space Station, lent her expertise to help select the best space-themed entries.
She said: “This was a fantastic project that required research and thought, with many different ways for the children to show their knowledge, ingenuity and creativity. I enjoyed seeing the shortlisted entries, with their various presenting styles and techniques.“
In this category, the first prize, of a telescope, was awarded to Maria Modan from The Olive School, Blackburn. Maria’s mission to space was exciting and contained detailed models, fitness plans and even a guide to Earth for an alien.
Maria Modan shows her winning entry in the KS2 competition.
Second prize was won by The Olive School, Small Heath pupil, Amira Tahir, who was rewarded with a night sky projector and third prize, of a solar system night light, went to Zaynab Adam from The Olive School, Bolton.
The inventors’ category for secondary school pupils saw winners and finalists split into the KS3 and KS4 categories. First prize winners were awarded a Microscope Kit, second prize was an Explosive Experiments Kit and our lucky third prize winners received a Science Brain Box.
In KS3, the winning prize was awarded to Huzaifa Patel from Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School for his inventive idea based around hand sanitiser. Judges felt this invention showed a great response to the current COVID-19 crisis as it aimed to help the population during the pandemic. It was well planned and Huzaifa’s presentation explained its purpose clearly and showed how the science supported its operation.
Second prize went to Syed Ahmed from Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East and third prize to Nina Tailor from Tong Leadership Academy.
The KS4 winner is Zikra Al Shameria from Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham for her exceptional depiction of a biome, which examined tropical rainforests as an example of an ecosystem. Zikra gave excellent examples of food-webs and identified the importance of biodiversity.
Zikra’s winning entry in the KS4 category was this wonderful tropical biome.
Second prize went to Mahmood Desai from Eden Boys’ School, Preston and third was awarded to Sharull Hossain from Eden Boys’ School, Bolton.
(Mufti) Hamid Patel CBE, Chief Executive of Star Academies, said: “I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who has taken the time to enter our Star STEM Challenge competitions.
“The creativity, attention to detail and scientific knowledge demonstrated by our pupils are truly impressive. The STEM Challenge is another great example of the incredible spirit of our pupils who, during these extraordinary times, are continuing to achieve and learn about the world around them.
“We are always overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of our pupils, parents and teachers when we set new challenges, and our pupils’ unwavering commitment to learning remains a guiding light to all of us at Star Academies.”
Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists who are listed below.
Key Stage 1
Winners
1st prize – Zayneb Kherrab, The Olive School, Hackney
2nd prize – George Foster, The Olive School, Bolton
3rd prize – Alya Khan, Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy
Finalists
Fatimaah Patel, The Olive School, Preston
Manor Jamil, Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy
Zaynab Nawaz, The Olive School, Small Heath
Nadia Sabki, The Olive School, Small Heath
M Huzaifa Patel, The Olive School, Bolton
Muhammed Issa, The Olive School, Blackburn
Safiyyah Hussain, The Olive School, Hackney
Nusaybah and Aasiyah Taj, Starbank School
Owais Kaashif, Starbank School
Lucas Bourdaire, Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy
Key Stage 2
Winners
1st prize – Maria Modan, The Olive School, Blackburn
2nd prize – Amira Tahir, The Olive School, Small Heath
3rd prize – Zaynab Adam, The Olive School, Bolton
Finalists
I Faruki, The Olive School, Small Heath
Aaminah and Muhammad Desai, The Olive School, Preston
Yunus Bellala, The Olive School, Birmingham
Zoya Mughal, The Olive School, Birmingham
Huda Khan, The Olive School, Hackney
Soumaya Kherrab, The Olive School, Hackney
Zoha Shaukat, Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy
Key Stage 3
Winners
1st prize – Huzaifa Patel, Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School
2nd prize – Syed Ahmed, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East
3rd prize – Nina Tailor, Tong Leadership Academy
Finalists
Charlie Whitlow, Bay Leadership Academy
Gracie Stevens, Bay Leadership Academy
Alex Gouldsbrough, Bay Leadership Academy
Youssif Abunowar, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Khadijat Akinwale, Eden Girls’ School, Coventry
Ayeshah Bakali, Eden Girls’ School, Coventry
Ahmad Bizarri, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Fahad Khalid, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Hannah Malik, Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS)
Ruwaida Yusef, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Inyan Riaz, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Sulieman Khan, Eden Boys’ School, Preston
Umar Patel, Eden Boys’ School, Bolton
Sareena Ali, Eden Girls’ School, Slough
Mohammed Sarwar, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
Abdul Rumaney, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
Rayyan Khan, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford
Mohammad Dawud Yousaf, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford
Kibreeya Bhatti, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford
Hamza Khadim, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford
Muhammad Sabur Haneef, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Hamza Shah, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
Fahima Shaikh, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham
Ayan Abbasi, Tong Leadership Academy
Qasim Akhtar, Eden Boys’ School, Bolton
Key Stage 4
Winners
1st prize – Zikra Al Shameri, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham
2nd prize – Mahmood Desai, Eden Boys’ School, Preston
3rd prize – Sharull Hossain, Eden Boys’ School, Bolton
Finalists
Courtney Cox, Bay Leadership Academy
Elisha Durkin, Bay Leadership Academy
Laila Ahmed, Eden Girls’ School, Coventry
Abdullah Raja, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
Muhammad Murad, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East
Ahmed Mahmood, Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East
Khadijah Adam, Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS)
A Rehman Bhula, Eden Boys’ School, Preston
Abdul Rumaney, Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
Maliha Khalid, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Senna Yousef, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Manchester
Kimberley Howell, Tong Leadership Academy
Ibnul Hossain, Eden Boys’ School, Bolton
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 14th Jul 2020 | Posted In: Latest News