Northern Schools Trust Science Competition

The inaugural Northern Schools Trust Science Solutions Competition Final took place at Liverpool Life Sciences UTC and The Studio on the 30^th of April. This competition was open to all the schools within our trust. The students got to present all of their ideas that were shortlisted for the final, and they were exceptional. From reception class all the way up to Year 10, the ideas were amazing, and the students presented themselves so confidently and professionally.

A huge well done to our high school winners, Olivia, Emilia and Willow, for their brilliant project, Cool Comfort: Menopause Cooling Sticks. And a special shout-out to Joseph, who was named Best Presenter!

We would like to say a huge thank you to Miss Murphy and Miss Linkman, and all the other participating schools' staff and students for making this competition possible. We are eagerly anticipating the next inaugural NST event. 

Student-led projects have been shortlisted for awards at the Big Bang Competition

We are delighted to share that Jess’s Bioplastics Project has been named a finalist in the Textiles and Materials category. Her project focuses on researching and developing a range of sustainable bioplastics designed to replace thin-film, oil-based, single-use plastics commonly found in food packaging; an innovative step toward a greener future.

The Cool Comfort Project, developed by Willow, Emilia, and Olivia, involves the creation of a cooling, moisturising stick designed to relieve symptoms of menopause. Impressively, it has been shortlisted not only in its category but is also in the running for the competition's highest award: Young Scientist of the Year. 

You can find out more and see the full list of finalists here.

Congratulations to all students involved in projects this year, and we wish you the best of luck in the finals!

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) Easter Holiday Experience

Over the Easter holidays, 7 Liverpool Life Sciences and Studio students participated in LIPA Extra workshops, covering areas such as music, acting and backstage. 

Maya and Emily worked in a band and created a song. They performed it along with a cover for the whole group on the last day.

Reagan and Joseph worked in a group of around twelve actors and created a hilarious performance, which they showcased to the group on the final day.

Maria, Rio and Khanyi created an escape room, which the full group, thirty in total, participated in on the last day. The reaction to the space was amazing. 

We would like to say a huge thank you to Dr. Mitchell from Liverpool Life Sciences UTC and Christina from LIPA for organising such an insightful experience for our students. 

Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) visit Liverpool Life Sciences UTC

On Friday 25^th of April, Neil Garrido and Alison Rouncefield-Swales visited from the Institute for Research in Schools to help students completing the Elephants on the Move Project and to evaluate this exciting pilot project.

We are one of only four schools involved in piloting the project, and IRIS were keen to get feedback from the students and also to help them to develop their own original research questions. The Year 10 and 12 students showed Neil and Ali the great start they had made in tracking the movement of orphaned elephants in Kafue National Park and calculating the home range size and investigating how changes in rainfall and temperature effect elephant movements.

It was great to get Neil’s input and by the end of the session he had helped all the groups to decide on an original research question. It was also amazing to hear from Ali about the great feedback the students had given about the project. We look forward to seeing how these projects develop and the students will have the opportunity to present their findings at the IRIS summer conference in Manchester on the 19^th of June.

Click here to find out more about this career pathway. 

Jones AV Work Experience 

Recently, 2 of our talented Liverpool Life Science and Studio School students, Tom and Olivia, completed a successful week of coding work placement with a Medical System Integration company, based in Birkinhead. Our students produced some excellent work, programming operating theatre lights & cameras and a test documentation automation tool. 

We asked Tom what duties he did whilst on placement, he shared, "We were first shown their equipment and given information on what Jones AV do and how their integrated systems work and can benefit hospitals. Following this, I was then given a base template project in ImGui and C++, which I was able to learn and improve upon to add in functionality. For example, in my project, I created a disco mode which made the camera dance around and flash the light."

In terms of how his work experience has prepared him for the jobs of tomorrow, Tom said, "This work placement has prepared me for the jobs of tomorrow as it exposed me to the increasingly important IoT technology, which they are implementing in real-world scenarios with their systems."

British Values Day

On Wednesday, Year 10 took part in a PSHE drop-down day to develop their understanding of British values and to tackle the issues of misogyny and sexism. The students had a session delivered by Merseyside Police to ensure that all students are aware of how the police deal with sexism within the law.

From there, students were split into groups to specifically explore the issues surrounding misogyny and sexism. In the later part of the afternoon, students collated their ideas today for the creation of a student-led charter of principles that we can all adhere to.

Engineering

Our Year 10 students have finished their design projects, and some of the outcomes from their Autodesk Fusion models are pretty epic!

Year 12 trip to the University of Liverpool

Year 12 students recently enjoyed an inspiring visit to the University of Liverpool, one of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group universities. The day began with an engaging lecture on the benefits of higher education, with a focus on the unique opportunities offered by research-intensive institutions like Liverpool.

Students were then guided on a campus tour by current university ambassadors, who shared their own experiences and offered a genuine insight into academic and social life at the university. After a relaxed lunch, students attended an informative presentation about what it’s really like to study at Liverpool, from courses and support services to societies and accommodation.

The visit ended with a fun and interactive workshop where students worked in teams to design their own university society, combining creativity with teamwork. It was a rewarding and enjoyable day that left our Year 12s feeling inspired and better informed about their future educational pathways.

Leaving a review on Google helps others learn more about our schools and gives us valuable insight.

Liverpool Life Sciences UTC

The Studio School

Are you an aspiring architect/design engineer?

ArchiTech Network are delighted to announce their latest course, a masterclass taught by Silvia Reuda on Unreal 5. Learn how Silvia is utilising Unreal Engine in her work and how you can develop your own visualisation skills. In their 22-part course, you will delve into importing from Rhino, importing context from Cesium and Character creating using Metahuman. 

Silvia Rueda is the Founder and Creative Director of Understory Studio, a practise who specialises in immersive architectural projects using innovative technologies like VR/AR/Digital Twins/Unreal Engine/Twinmotion. Silvia also has incredible experience as she was the Head of Immersive Media at the highly-regarded Architecture firm Heatherwick Studio. 

Masterclass benefits:

• Certification- Get an ATN Visualisation certificate upon completion
• 7+ hours of learnable content
• 22-part masterclass
• Downloadable resources
• Learn from an industry expert
• High-value skill
• Hours of learnable content

Click here to find out more.

Upcoming work experience events

• Publicis Groupe, Media & Marketing Virtual Insight Day

This event is for Year 13, age 18+, gap year and university students interested in a career in media, creative production, health communications, and advertising and looking to understand more about apprenticeship opportunities, live roles and the media/marketing industry.

By attending this event, you'll gain early access to Publicis Groupe apprenticeship applications!

Wednesday, 7th of May, 4.30-6 pm - Click here to find out more.

• Uptree Webinar- Interview skills for student success

Join Uptree for an exciting session where you'll explore the key interview skills that employers are looking for—and how you can showcase them with confidence.

This event is for all students looking to strengthen their interview skills and get career-ready. 

Thursday, 8th of May, 8.30-9.30 am - Click here to find out more.

• Manchester: Arm, Technology, Work Experience Day

This event is for students aged 16-21 interested in a career in Tech. Arm have various opportunities in Engineering (software, hardware) as well as Electronics. But if you also have a general curiosity about Arm, they also have people who work in Marketing, Business and other non-technical areas. Applicants are welcome no matter what subject you're studying!

Wednesday, 4th of June, 10 am - 3 pm - Click here to find out more.

• Manchester: Government Cyber Work Experience Day

This event is for Year 12 and 13 students interested in a career in STEM.

This event will provide insights into the breadth of roles and Early Careers programmes available with Government Intelligence Agencies, e.g. Cyber, Engineering, Analyst, Linguist, as well as business functions, e.g. HR, finance, etc.  

Thursday, 19th of June, 10 am - 3 pm - Click here to find out more. 

• National: Arm, Technology Work Virtual Work Experience Event

This event is for students aged 16-21 interested in a career in Tech. Arm have various opportunities in Engineering (software, hardware) as well as Electronics. But if you also have a general curiosity in Arm, they also have people who work in Marketing, Business and other non-technical areas. Applicants are welcome no matter what subject you're studying!

Tuesday, 1st of July at 10 am -1 pm - Click here to find out more.

• Unifrog Virtual Work Experience Week

Unifrog's virtual work experience week is back! For students who missed out on in-person placements, or those who wish to further build their employability skills, it's a great way to connect with some top employers. 

Each day will be a combination of live webinars and time for students to complete a real workplace task through their Courses tool. Students can choose to sign up for just one day, a few days, or the whole week!

Monday, 30th of June–Friday, 4th of July - Click here to find out more. 

Liverpool John Moores University Live Virtual Event

Join LJMU on the 7th of May, 4-7 pm where you can explore everything the university has to offer from the comfort of your own home.

This digital event is the perfect opportunity to find out more and to ask any questions you might have about preparing for university, being a student and life at LJMU.

Schedule:

• 4-4.30 pm: Applying to Clearing
• 4.35pm-5.05 pm: Accommodation
• 5.10 -5.40 pm: Fees and Funding
• 5.45-6.15 pm: Student Life (JMSU, Sports and current students)
• 6.20-6.50 pm: Go Abroad opportunities

For more information and to make a booking, visit here.

Explore Careers in Technology

The technology sector is evolving faster than ever, offering exciting career paths in AI, cybersecurity, software development, and more. With high demand for digital skills, apprenticeships provide a hands-on route into this dynamic field. 

Support for Students and Families with Employment and Training Opportunities

Do you live in a Riverside Home and want free support? If so, Riverside can support students and their families to help them take positive steps toward employment, training, and apprenticeships.

They can support anyone aged 16 and over living in a Riverside household, including students, parents, and carers. Our support includes:

• Help with CVs and Cover Letters
• Confidence-building for interviews and employment
• Accessing employment opportunities
• Guidance on training and apprenticeship options
• Specialist support for care leavers and young carers

To find out more, click here. Or email [email protected]

Work Experience opportunity: Home Office

This 5-day face-to-face work experience will give a real insight into the Home Office and the government department. The placement will give students the opportunity to work alongside several teams, including operational commands, intelligence and project delivery. If you are interested in Law, STEM or Computing, then this could be of interest to you. 

Medical School Applications: Virtual Conference - Exclusively for parents and guardians

Overview of the Medical School Application Virtual Conference 2025

Sunday, 4th of May, 12.30-6 pm, via Microsoft Teams.

The deadline to sign up is the 30th of April at 6 pm.

The In2MedSchool Essay competition will also be launched during this event.

How AI Can Help Your Career Journey: Exclusive Dell Webinar for Students in Years 12 and 13

Experts from across Dell Technologies will discuss:

• How employers are using AI to help with the recruitment process.
• How AI can be used effectively by applicants to help them get a job.
• How AI is changing jobs at Dell.
• Open Q&A session to answer questions.

Wednesday, 18th of June - Click here to book your place now!

Mental Health Support

Make an online referral to Liverpool's Children & Young People's Mental Health Support. Children and young people, parents and carers in crisis can access support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, freephone 0808 196 3550. Visit the emergency advice page for more information.

Training for parents/carers & professionals working with children & young people

Merseyside Youth Association’s mental health promotion team (RAISE Team) deliver a range of FREE bite-size courses covering a range of mental health issues that impact children, young people and their families. Bite-size sessions coming up in May, delivered via Zoom.

• Understanding Low Mood and Depression - 6th of May, 9.30-10.30 am - Book here.
• The Importance of Sleep - 13th of May, 12-1 pm - Book here.
• Understanding and supporting crisis and risk in schools - 14th of May, 10-11.30 am - Book here.
• Child+Adolescent to Parent Violence+Abuse Session (CAPVA) 19th of May, 11 am-1 pm - Book here.
• Adolescent Brain Development - 21st of May, 9.30-10.30 am - Book here.
• Cultivating Self-Compassion - 21st of May 11-12.15 am - Book here.
• An Introduction to Eating Disorders - 21st of May, 4-5 pm - Book here.
• Body Image - 22nd of May, 9-10 am - Book here.
• Mental Health Support for Children and Young People in Liverpool - 22nd of May, 2.30-4 pm - Book here.
• Introduction to Self-Harm - 30th of May, 10-11 am -Book here.