PUPILS at a school in Yate have demonstrated their knowledge of science by designing their own experiments and projects.

Following months of preparation, Year 8 pupils at Brimsham Green School impressed judges at the school’s first ever science fair on Friday, March 17. 

The 12 and 13-year-olds showcased a variety of experiments, ranging from an investigation into the best type of paper aeroplane to a working model of a wind turbine and solar panel.

The budding scientists were tasked with creating a project back in December, and came up with their ideas by themselves before completing the work at home over the course of three months. 

Judges comprising of teachers, a school governor and a representative from the Met Office had the difficult task of awarding the science fair's best projects.

After much deliberation, Tia Newman and Ellie Ridler were awarded the top prize for their experiment into the different amounts of rainfall across the country.

The girls asked family members from locations across England to record rainfall in their gardens, and plotted the results on a graph.

They found that the south coast has some of the highest rainfall, but said that they experienced some technical difficulties during the project.

Twelve-year-old Tia said: “One of the beakers we used to collect rainwater fell over, so that might be an anomaly in the experiment.”

Ellie, also 12, added: “We were surprised by our results, but the project was fun.”

Joshua Harley and James Freeman won the Best Use of ICT prize, for programming a robotic arm using a computer.

The winners of the Best Investigation Award were Harry Pritchard and Leo Hutchins, who conducted an experiment into the aerodynamics of different shaped paper aeroplanes.

Daniel Chesworth won the Design and Construction prize for his solar powered bus, while George Pugh and Maya Barstow were named as the runners up for the Overall Best Project prize after conducting research into potato power.

Adam Titley, head of science at the school, said: “I have run science fairs at a number of schools in the past, but the pupils at Brimsham Green have really excelled themselves.

“This is the biggest range of projects that I have ever seen, and a testimony to the pupil’s hard work and creativity."

He added: “I am particularly impressed by pupils who did not get the expected results from their experiment.

“Sometimes things do not go to plan in science experiments and that’s all part of the process.”

Among the judges was Dr Michael Cotterell, a research associate at the Met Office, who was impressed by the talent and innovation on display at the science fair.

He said: “All of the projects demonstrate just how inquisitive young people can be about the world.

“It’s clear that a lot of thought, effort and hard work has gone into the projects."

He added: “The pupils have really inspired me to question the world around me.”