Young scientists at The Blake Primary School in Witney take part in a week of experiments

Until Friday the school is hosting a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) week, with the aim of raising the profile of those subjects in the school and the role they play in everyday life.

It follows a similar initiative two years ago and has seen parents and professionals from organisations such as Oxford University give up their time to help youngsters find out more about their jobs.

The reception class learn about fruit and vegetables

Reception teacher and science coordinator Richeldis Agnew said it gave pupils a chance to explore the subjects and their impact on the wider world.

She said: "We are giving the children the chance to question for themselves because questioning and analysis are skills we need in those subjects.

"You need to be able to come up with ideas and follow them through.

"We as teachers get a really clear view of where the children are in their learning and where we need to take them in their next steps.

"We try to make it really purposeful, the children need to know why they do it.

"Most children have a real-life problem and are encouraged to sort it out."

One such problem is being tackled by Year Two pupils, who are busy figuring out what sort of materials would create the best parachute to allow the

Easter bunny to deliver eggs from above without them breaking.

They will then have the chance to test out the parachutes for real.

Year Four pupils have been studying digestion and teeth by learning more about crocodiles and how they differ from humans.

Jonathan Reynolds, six, tests the absorbancy of a sponge

Deputy headteacher Claire Doland said the week of focusing on STEM subjects was part of the school's aim to give all youngsters a broad education.

She said: "Across the year we have different focuses at different times.

"Earlier in the year we had a religious education and art week and the children did lots of different projects across the year groups.

"In the summer we have a music and sport week.

"We have an orchestra and choir and we also run an event called busker's playtime so any child with an instrument can come and play it in the playground.

"Every year group puts on a show or play throughout the year.

"We have just had Year Three and Year Four do Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits."

Year One teacher Naomi Rowlands with a group experimenting with the absorbancy of sugar cubes

Mrs Doland added that the support the school had from parents allowed them to run focus weeks and give pupils the best education possible.

She said: "We have some parents with some great skills who can inspire our children even further.

"We have parents with aspirations for their children and we ensure, wherever possible, we develop those aspirations in our children.

"We want them to have ambition and think about the different aspects of life they can benefit from."

What Ofsted said:

The Blake Primary School in Cogges Hill Road was last inspected by Ofsted in May 2014, before it become an academy earlier this year.
 

It was rated 'good' in all areas by inspectors, maintaining the level from its previous inspection.
 

Pupils were said to achieve well and standards were generally deemed to be above national expectations.
 

Teaching was praised as being good, with teachers and teaching assistants working "extremely well" together.
 

Children in reception were said to get off to a good start and governors were singled out for their full involvement in life in the school.
 

Inspectors said the school was not yet outstanding because there was not enough outstanding teaching and some marking in pupils' books did not show clearly how work could be improved.
 

Inspectors also recommended improving the skills of some newly appointed subject leaders.