May 6, 2026 11:57am
It was a day fuelled by fire, rockets and balloon-bursting at The Portsmouth Academy, as The Royal Institution dazzled our students and local community with a science show to remember.
There were two shows during the school day, one for Year 7 and one for Year 8, which focused on how viruses and diseases can spread.
In the afternoon, we hosted parents and children for a spectacular display on all things rockets and explosions.
The Royal Institution are an independent charity who bring the public and scientists together through engaging talks and initiatives.
Gareth Baston, who delivered the interactive sessions, loved the energy and enthusiasm shown by the pupils and their parents.
“It was great to be invited to The Portsmouth Academy and see the students so engaged with today’s topic.
“Their enthusiasm to take part in the demonstrations; their attentive listening and intelligent questions were really encouraging.
“Hopefully today’s sessions will inspire them to look towards STEM subjects and careers in the future”.
The shows provided a unique opportunity for students to bring their learning to life in an exciting, hands-on way.
Dara, one of our Year 7 pupils, enjoyed the element of surprise at the shows:
“It was very fun being here and all the cool tricks he did were so unexpected!”
Hosting our local community in the later show was a fantastic opportunity to show families how passionate we are about science here at The Portsmouth Academy.
One parent said, “This presentation will prepare the students to make their mind up about science in the future, because science is the future!”
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are so important in helping our pupils aspire and achieve, by transforming their life chances and giving them an opportunity to pursue a career in the field.
Miss Steger-Lewis, STEM lead here at The Portsmouth Academy, recognised the importance of providing interactive experiences to ignite pupil’s passion for science.
“We were so fortunate to receive a grant from The Royal Institution as events like this are so important to our students.
“They bring what they learn in class to life and appreciate the real-world application of what they do in school. Families who attended really enjoyed the show too and it was lovely to share the experience with them”.
At The Portsmouth Academy, we help students fulfil their aspirations; providing opportunities for them to reach their full potential.
Does your child love science? Discover more about The Portsmouth Academy at our open day on Thursday 1st October 2026 from 6-8pm.
