Alleyn's Blog: Legacy Shaping Culture

The theme of this year’s British Science Week ‘Smashing Stereotypes’ caused us to reflect on how legacy shapes culture.  We sat down with Ben Ford, our new Head of Science, to discuss. 

As a science educator for over a decade, I have encountered the discourse around the inclusion of girls in STEM numerous times over the course of my career. Despite national upticks in female representation in STEM professions, it is shocking that women still constitute only 29% of the STEM workforce. At Alleyn’s, I have been struck by how much girls’ engagement in STEM is deeply ingrained in the culture. Rather than encouraging participation, the focus is on supporting their success. What factors have contributed to this and how can we ensure it continues? 

I believe it is a case of legacy shaping culture. Having exposure to role models and witnessing their actions plays a crucial role in inspiring participation. Alongside a wide range of activities available to pupils, many of our initiatives and activities in science boast of strong female representation. 

One such example of legacy is Tiffiny (Year 13). Following her second- place win at CanSat  last year, she has secured a place to read Computer Science at University next year and has spearheaded Frontier, our school science magazine. This year, there is a group of twelve girls entering the CanSat competition, with promising results from their preliminary launch of their can-sized satellites. 

This foundation of transformative legacy is not confined to Alleyn’s alone; it extends to our community of schools. Pupils from schools within the Southwark Schools Learning Partnership (which is made up of a total of 18 schools) are collaborating on a whole host of projects together in the Alleyn’s Science Academy. 

Pupils from Dulwich College, JAGS, Elm Green, Harris Clapham, St Michael’s College, and Alleyn’s have come up with some wonderful projects ranging from designing wearables to alleviate arthritis pain to assessing global Covid-19 fatality data to identify trends. 

Nationally, attracting more young people to STEM fields with a focus on inclusion and diversity remains a priority. The more pupils are exposed to STEM and can see themselves reflected in these professions, the more we contribute to that legacy that cultivates a culture inspiring a new generation of pupils to pursue a career in STEM. 

Ben Ford 

Director of Science