At University Schools Trust, our mission is to provide transformational education for all. A recent Solar System workshop at Cyril Jackson Primary School exemplifies this commitment, offering Year 5 pupils an inspiring opportunity to explore the wonders of space through meaningful partnership.

We were delighted to welcome graduates from Queen Mary University of London, whose expertise and enthusiasm brought the subject to life. The session began with an exploration of scale, helping pupils understand the immense size of objects within our universe. They learned about the order and characteristics of the planets, building secure foundations of scientific knowledge.

To make these complex ideas accessible, pupils used a range of seeds to represent planets at a smaller scale. This hands on activity enabled them to visualise the vast differences in planetary size and sparked thoughtful discussion.

One particularly engaging conversation centred on Mars, with pupils questioning whether it had always been red or if it might once have appeared white.

Throughout the workshop, children discovered fascinating facts, including that Jupiter is eleven times larger than Earth and that Uranus is the coldest planet, despite not being the furthest from the Sun. They also explored nebulas and gained a deeper appreciation of the extraordinary scale of the Sun itself.

By drawing their own scaled models, pupils observed how the inner planets sit closer together while the outer planets are spaced much further apart. Their curiosity, insightful questions and enthusiasm for learning reflected the very essence of transformational education. We are grateful to work alongside esteemed partners such as Queen Mary University of London to broaden horizons and raise aspirations across our Trust.