Posted on: 17/03/2025Students win STEM ChallengeMr Hainsworth and Mr Lancaster took 12 DT students to a STEM challenge day held at Basingstoke College of Technology. The day consisted of students being presented with a task to design and make a structure capable of firing a plastic ball a minimum of 3 metres and land back close to the firing point. Students also had to produce a design portfolio. Facing strong competition from other local schools and colleges, we were delighted not only to win a trophy for best portfolio but also best overall winner, a great achievement! Mr Hainsworth, Head of DT View Article
Posted on: 29/09/2025Wild Inspiration: Year 9 Artists Sketch at Marwell ZooToday, our Year 9 Art students enjoyed a fantastic and highly educational school trip to Marwell Zoo. The aim was to gather some first-hand inspiration for their ongoing ‘Wild Animals’ project. This excursion provided a brilliant opportunity to take their observational skills out of the classroom and into a dynamic, natural environment. The day kicked off with a specialist observational drawing workshop led by the zoo's excellent education team. Students were given privileged, close-up access to a fascinating range of artefacts, including animal furs, skins, and skeletons. This tactile session allowed them to study the unique textures, intricate structures, and anatomy of wild creatures. It provided a solid, academic foundation for their subsequent live sketching out in the park. Later, surrounded by incredible wildlife, students explored the zoo, making the most of the opportunity to sketch animals in their naturalistic habitats. This demanding exercise helped them refine their skills in capturing form and movement quickly and accurately. Watching the animals allowed them to develop the spontaneous and confident approach necessary for effective field sketching. It was a truly memorable and inspiring day of creativity. The students returned with sketchbooks full of fantastic ideas and detailed studies, which will now directly inform and elevate the quality of their 'Wild Animals' project work back in the studio. We are very much looking forward to seeing the final pieces they produce! View Article
Posted on: 6/05/2026BAE Systems STEM Challenge 2026Two teams of our Year 10 Design Technology students attended the BAE Systems STEM Challenge 2026 at the Farnborough Conference and Exhibition Centre. The challenge involved students designing and building “an off-road vehicle capable of travelling across rough terrain to deliver essential protective and emergency supplies” into an earthquake zone. The day gave students the opportunity to develop their leadership, teamwork, and communication skills under tight time constraints, using problem-solving skills just like real engineers to apply STEM knowledge in an exciting, high-stakes scenario. Once the vehicles had been designed and built, they underwent rigorous performance testing. Alongside the main challenge, students were also required to plan and deliver a Dragons' Den style presentation about their vehicle, as well as complete a mini bridge-building challenge. Both teams had an exciting, action-packed day, and we are absolutely thrilled to share that one of our teams won the Dragons’ Den Presentation Award! A huge well done to everyone involved for representing the school so brilliantly! View Article
Posted on: 13/05/2025Equipping Amery Hill Students with Essential Life Skills: MyBnk Delivers Financial Literacy WorkshopToday, our students at Amery Hill embarked on a crucial journey into the world of personal finance, thanks to an incredibly engaging financial literacy workshop delivered by the fantastic team at MyBnk! In an increasingly complex financial landscape, empowering young people with the skills to manage their money effectively is more vital than ever. MyBnk, a leading UK charity specialising in financial education for young people, provided our students with a hands-on experience designed to do just that. The workshop was a dynamic and interactive session where students immersed themselves in essential financial concepts. They gained practical knowledge and applied critical skills in areas such as budgeting their income, understanding the importance of saving, and making informed decisions about spending. The MyBnk team fostered an environment that encouraged active participation and real-world application, ensuring the concepts resonated deeply with our students. Learning to make smart money choices from a young age builds a strong foundation for future independence and financial well-being. We're incredibly grateful to MyBnk for their expertise and for providing such an interactive and impactful learning experience. Their visit has undoubtedly equipped our students with invaluable tools they'll carry with them throughout their lives. View Article
Posted on: 11/03/2025Kimba's Visit Inspires CreativityAmery Library hosted an exciting author visit in March – Kimba Bush - a performance poet and rapper. Kimba uses the power of words to paint pictures that capture hope, build confidence, and inspire creativity. Our students in Year 7 and 8 were thoroughly impressed by Kimba’s rapping performance, during which he wowed everyone, including the staff, with his ability to weave magic with verse. Kimba then delivered a series of bespoke poetry workshops to a select number of Year 7, 8 and 9 students. Here, he asked the students to think of things they valued, such as family, friends, pets, books, films, etc. With Kimba’s guidance, and his freestyle rapping, students produced their own verse, empowered by Kimba’s example. View Article
Posted on: 4/04/2025Celebrating Work Experience WeekLast month, our Year 10 students took part in Amery Hill’s first Work Experience Week for many years – and what a success it was! We want to say a huge thank you to all the parents, carers, and employers who supported our students and made these incredible opportunities possible. Our students completed placements in a wide range of industries, including accountancy, kitchen design, broking and underwriting in the London insurance market, engineering, sports coaching, manufacturing, graphic design, air traffic control systems, fire and rescue, publishing, scientific research, and architectural design – to name just a few! Throughout the week, students reflected on what they had learnt: · “Getting real life experience” · “Meeting new people and learning new skills” · “Learning pathways into law” · “Insight into how the real world works” · “Provided opportunity for interesting experiences” A special thank you also to Queen Mary’s College, who supported the week, giving students the chance to develop their soft skills while working alongside college staff. We are extremely grateful for their support. If you or your organisation would like to get involved in offering a work placement to our students in the future, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at careersadmin@ameryhill.school. View Article