The Power of STEAM at Horris Hill

As a student and teacher of science, I’ve seen first-hand how curious and excited everyone becomes when they’re working hands-on, creating something new, or solving a challenging problem. But science, by itself, is only one part of a bigger picture. Enter STEAM: an educational approach that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics.

At Horris Hill School we are on an exciting journey to embed our curriculum with STEAM. Whether in French or History, Art or PE, these essential skills can be developed in our students throughout their academic studies. STEAM is important, as it empowers our students to begin to solve real-world problems, foster creativity, become career ready and keeps them hungry for more.

The world we live in is not divided into neat subject areas, like traditional schools. When we solve problems in life, we need to pull from many disciplines. STEAM education mimics this, teaching students how to think critically, collaborate, and combine creativity with logic and computer literacy. By incorporating the Arts, STEAM encourages creativity and innovation, using creative thinking to enhance scientific and technological processes. This is the kind of thinking that leads to inventions, new solutions, and fresh approaches to challenges.

The career paths of tomorrow require a blend of technical skills and creative problem-solving. Many industries now prioritise employees who can think across disciplines, whether it’s designing new tech interfaces, building sustainable engineering solutions, or developing software. For students who may not naturally gravitate toward maths or science, adding an artistic element can make these subjects more approachable. STEAM allows students to see how abstract concepts apply to the things they care about, motivating them to engage more deeply.

Incorporating STEAM doesn’t have to mean an overhaul of the curriculum, but it does require a fresh perspective on how we teach. At Horris Hill we will be introducing practical projects and opportunities that integrate multiple disciplines at the heart of STEAM learning. We will dedicate specific days where students will work on short-term STEAM challenges which develop solutions, present prototypes, and solve issues with climate change, space exploration and robotics in medicine – all modern issues facing us today.

We will encourage the use of technology in the classroom, such as coding, robotics, and 3D printing. These tools naturally bring together the different elements of STEAM and provide students with opportunities to design, experiment, and troubleshoot in real time. We will bring in professionals who work in STEAM-related fields, whether it’s a local architect, software developer, or environmental scientist. We will offer STEAM clubs for a more relaxed environment for students to explore STEAM on their terms. ‘Mad Scientists’, The CREST Awards, Kitchen Chemistry, Coding clubs, Robotics teams and student Maker Spaces are some exciting opportunities planned to build confidence and provide valuable experience in these fields.

Incorporating STEAM is not just about preparing students for specific careers, but about teaching them how to think, collaborate, and innovate. These are the skills they will need, regardless of the path they choose. As Horris Hill’s Director of STEAM, my goal is to create opportunities for students to see connections across subjects, to explore their creativity, and to develop critical problem-solving skills and to be prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. Above all I want to bring STEAM to life and to inspire our next generation of Horris Hill Student.