Year 1 Mysterious Egg Discovered 15th May 2026 Pre-prep Science Year 1 had a very exciting day, when a mysterious egg appeared in the sensory garden! The strange looking object sparked lots of curiosity, and the children quietly headed outside to investigate. Gathering around the egg, the class carefully observed its size, shape, and colour. They began to wonder: What could be inside? How did it get there? Could it belong to an animal? The children shared fantastic ideas and predictions, with some suggesting it might belong to a bird, a reptile, or even something magical! Back in the classroom, they worked hard to write thoughtful questions to send to the estates team. They wanted to find out: How did the egg get into the sensory garden? Where did it come from? Does it belong to a real animal?
Entries Invited for Independent Research Project – ‘Amazing Animals’ 15th May 2026 Academic Global Pre-prep Science Following the success of last term’s International Women’s Day project, Ms Stone, Head of Academic Excellence, is delighted to introduce a new independent research project for this half term. In assemblies this week, the children learned about the incredible work of Sir David Attenborough, who has inspired generations through his storytelling and dedication to the natural world. In celebration of his 100th birthday, we are inviting children to create a fact file or presentation about an ‘Amazing Animal’. Full details can be found here. This project is open to all pupils across the school. Years 3–6: Please submit completed projects via Teams Pre-Prep: Please hand work in to your class teacher We are grateful for your support in encouraging your child to develop strong research habits and take pride in presenting their final work. We are very much looking forward to seeing the creativity and effort the children put into their projects!
Year 2 Scientists Get a Taste of Year 3 in the Senior Lab 15th May 2026 Pre-prep Science Our Year 2 pupils had a great start to Thursday as they had a whole science lesson in the senior lab! They learnt about and discussed the three areas of biology, physics and chemistry. The children watched how a saline solution was made and saw what happens when evaporation takes place. They also had the opportunity to look at a small animal bone through a microscope. The lesson ended with another fun chemical experiment where they enjoyed watching what happens when you mix certain liquids and chemicals together. They all agreed that they can’t wait for being in Year 3!
Year 3’s Magnetic Investigations 15th May 2026 Science Year 3 have been investigating magnets by testing how many paperclips different ones can hold. The children discovered that bigger doesn’t always mean stronger—some smaller magnets worked better! This led to great discussions about how magnets work and what makes them strong.
Year 3 Uncover the Secrets of Seeds 27th March 2026 Science This week, Year 3 explored the fascinating world of seeds. From tiny snowdrops to mighty oaks, every plant begins with a seed, and the children enjoyed examining a variety of fruits to discover the seeds hidden inside. They learned that seeds come in many shapes and sizes and there are some that we can eat, and some we can’t. The classroom was buzzing with lots of curiosity and discussion.
Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Joins Space Day 20th March 2026 Academic Community Science Uncategorised This week, we were honoured to welcome the amazing Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, renowned space scientist, television presenter, and passionate science advocate, for a special Space Day. Dressed to impress, our curious Pre-Prep children watched Maggie star in her own episode of The Clangers and learnt how the children’s TV series had ignited her interest in space. They then thoroughly quizzed real-life Maggie about black holes, white holes, aliens and black flips in space. Dr Maggie also stopped by StarLab, the space observatory, here on site at Copthorne Prep and run by members of the Crawley Astronomical Society to check out the big night sky telescope along with the new solar scope that offers fascinating views of solar flares and sun spotswith pupils from Years 3 and 4. Our Years 5 and 6 pupils welcomed Maggie to the senior science lab where they were investigating food in space and how being in space affects our senses. Maggie was thrilled to see our facilities and shared some wonderful insights into creating and adapting your own observational equipment. An amazing day ended with a heartful talk to a packed hall of families and friends. Maggie has spent her career helping others understand the wonders of space, from her work on the James Webb Space Telescope to presenting The Sky at Night. Yet what resonated most with everyone was not just her incredible achievements, but her personal journey. She spoke openly about attending 13 different schools, navigating dyslexia, and discovering that her diagnosis was not a barrier, but a superpower that shaped her creativity and determination. Her message – that resilience, curiosity, and dreaming boldly can take you anywhere – left our children absolutely captivated. She even shared stories of how her love of The Clangers and Star Trek inspired her early fascination with the universe and pushed her toward a life in science. Her warmth, humour, and honesty lit up the room, and paired perfectly with our space‑themed day, where pupils immersed themselves in scientific questions, models, and cosmic wonder. At the end of the talk, Maggie spent time chatting with families and signed copies of two of the many books she has written. As part of her visit, Maggie also visited the new satellite school, Moon Hall Copthorne, opening in September 2026. Maggie shared her own journey with dyslexia and was thrilled to learn about the partnership between Copthorne Prep and Moon Hall School and the wonderful opportunities it will bring for all pupils. You can find out more about Moon Hall Copthorne. Huge thanks to Maggie for spending a magnificent afternoon with us, we are your biggest fans! Our thanks also go to Crawley Astronomical Society, who helped bring the universe even closer.
Year 4 Get Their Teeth Stuck into Science 13th February 2026 Science Over the last few weeks, Year 4 have been learning all about teeth and how to keep them healthy. We constructed model teeth using recyclable materials and last week, we set up an investigation to see the effects of different drinks on our teeth. We used eggs to represent teeth as the eggshell is similar to enamel. We tested Coca Cola, orange juice, milk and water by placing the eggs in a cup of each drink. Most of us predicted that Coca Cola would be the worst drink for our teeth, but after a week, we found that it was in fact orange juice that was the worst. We couldn’t believe what the egg looked like! The eggshell had begun to dissolve and was very soft and cracked. We found that milk and water caused no damage to teeth at all. Can you guess which egg was in each liquid?
Watch Us Grow in Year 1! 6th February 2026 Pre-prep Science In Science, Year One have been learning all about plants. We have been busy looking at hydro-pods, planting bean seeds and carefully watching them grow. The children have been very excited to observe the changes each day, especially as the seed jackets begin to split and fall away, revealing the tiny shoots and first leaves. We have enjoyed talking about how plants grow and are looking forward to seeing how our plants continue to change and develop over time.
Year 3 Take a Closer Look at Plants 16th January 2026 Science This week in Year 3 science, the children learned about the functions of the roots, stem, leaves, and flower. They enjoyed reinforcing their learning by playing a memory game, matching each plant part to its job.
Year 5 Find the Solution 14th November 2025 Science This week in science, Year 5 have been looking at dissolving and what constitutes a solution. They used their powers of observation to conduct a series of experiments where they tried dissolving different substances. By observing what happened and what they were left with in their beakers, they could decide whether or not a solution had been formed.