At NLCS Junior School’s STEAM Week, balloons popped, cars zoomed (or stubbornly refused to), and laughter filled the air—a thrilling mix of creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on chaos.
North London Collegiate School’s Junior School STEAM Week has once again proven that creativity, problem-solving, and a little bit of organised chaos are the perfect ingredients for an unforgettable learning experience.
For a few days, traditional lessons took a backseat as pupils from Years 3 to 6 fully immersed themselves in the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths (STEAM). The theme? Cars. From designing concept vehicles and building elastic band-powered racers to coding micro:bits for self-driving prototypes, the school was buzzing with ingenuity, teamwork, and hands-on experimentation.
But STEAM Week at NLCS is about more than just building and testing inventions—it’s about embracing trial and error, resilience, and the freedom to tinker. Some cars zipped across the room with impressive speed, while others, well… let’s just say they took their time. Balloon propulsion experiments saw some spectacular successes—and some equally spectacular failures, as balloons spun in circles, cars reversed unexpectedly, and a few creations stubbornly refused to move at all. But that’s the beauty of it—our pupils weren’t just following instructions; they were trusted to find their own solutions, learning first-hand the importance of iteration, collaboration, and thinking outside the box.
“This is such a great break from the norm for our students,” said Dave Harrison, Deputy Director of Innovation, Junior School. “The progress they have made this week in understanding concepts such as forces, coding, electronics, and even the art and beauty of cars is incredible. But more than that, the sheer joy and excitement in the room have been infectious—watching them race their cars, cheer on their friends, and laugh at their more ‘creative’ engineering solutions has been brilliant!”
Alongside their hands-on projects, students had the opportunity to hear from inspiring speakers, including ONL Tia Shah, a McLaren Racing 60 Scholar and Aerospace Engineering student at Bristol University, as well as parents working in software, civil engineering, and pharmaceuticals. Their talks brought real-world insights into how the skills honed in STEAM Week translate into groundbreaking careers that shape the world around us.
This year, NLCS was also delighted to receive support from the Institute of Engineering Technology (IET), whose insights and expertise helped bring an extra layer of industry relevance to the week’s activities. Their involvement reinforced the importance of STEAM education in developing the engineers, designers, and problem-solvers of the future.
As the week drew to a close, the highly anticipated STEAM Week Champion title was awarded to the team that demonstrated the best mix of innovation, teamwork, and perseverance. But beyond the competition, every student left with newfound confidence, practical skills, and an appreciation for how STEAM subjects connect to everyday life.
With NLCS’s Ideas Hub launching this spring, the spirit of innovation, experimentation, and bold thinking that defines STEAM Week will continue to thrive—ensuring that today’s young problem-solvers grow into tomorrow’s changemakers.
A special thank you goes to Mrs Freeman and Mr Harrison for organising such a fantastic week!
