GIRLS at Headington Prep School took on science and computing challenges to mark the launch of a new STEM department.

A science, technology, engineering and maths activities day was held on Monday ahead of the new department’s arrival in September.

It aimed to encourage children, especially girls, to consider careers in science, computing, engineering and architecture.

Rebecca Klico, arts and DT co-ordinator who organised the day, said: “We want the girls to experience what is very much a male-dominated world and encourage the girls to realise that those options are there for them.

“We are going to be taking the science curriculum as a basis and ensuring the girls get real life usage of that science through computing, or through DT.

“For example, they might learn about motors and friction, then apply it through data logging or making a motorised vehicle.”

First the participants, all aged three to 11, learned to filter water and then took on a computing challenge using robotics and programming.

Alisha Pitts, 11, said: “ I enjoyed the talk about the lifesaver bottle and then having to make our own water filter where we had to think about what materials to use.”