Digital Innovation

At Holmewood House, we embrace the digital age and lead in educational innovation. Technology, especially AI, is integral to our pupils’ learning. Specialist Computing and Digital Innovation Lead, Peter Meier, is continually developing our approach to bring technology and digital innovation to all aspects of our children’s educational journey.

AI enhances teaching by automating tasks, allowing teachers to focus on pupil needs. We prepare them for a tech-driven future by equipping children with essential knowledge and skills.

Our digital innovation includes next-gen computers and a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) initiative for the upper years, providing versatile 2-in-1 laptops for various learning activities. This enhances digital literacy and supports collaboration with classroom management tools.

The IT curriculum includes AI and Machine Learning, enabling students to build AI models and code. Coding remains a core part, developing computational thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

We offer creative workshops such as drone flying and Sphero ball coding to inspire beyond-the-classroom learning. We also focus on e-safety and cybersecurity, empowering pupils to navigate the digital world confidently.

Holmewood House is committed to innovation, ensuring our students thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Year 6 & 8 STEMbotic and Drone Coding Workshops

Year 8 Pupils Engage in STEMbotic and Drone Coding Workshops

Year 8 pupils participated in two dynamic workshops—STEMbotic and Drone Coding—designed to enrich their computing curriculum and as part of their Leavers’ Programme.

The STEMbotics workshop introduced pupils to the principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and its real-world applications. Pupils built robots equipped with sensors to detect colours and then enhanced their creations by customising their designs. They developed coding skills to navigate their robots within a grid and applied their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve a pressing real-world problem: the safe removal of nuclear waste. To achieve this, they engineered a motorised mechanical arm with a magnetic function, triggered when their robot detected the colour red.

In the Drone Coding workshop, pupils explored the fascinating uses of drones in fields such as wildlife conservation, film production, and public events. They began by learning basic coding to ensure safe take-offs and landings, progressing to algorithms for directional movement. Once confident with these skills, they tackled mathematical challenges, coding drones to fly in specific polygonal patterns by calculating precise angles. The session concluded with pupils coding their drones to perform impressive flips.

These workshops offered a stimulating blend of creativity, problem-solving, and technical skill development. We extend our thanks to Mr Barclay and Mr Anderson from Hyett Education for delivering such an enriching experience.

In all, a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring morning was had by all! To see what went on click here:

STEMbotic And Drone Workshop

Year 6 Pupils Shine in STEM Workshop

This week, Year 6 pupils took part in an engaging STEM workshop as part of their computing curriculum. Designed to combine coding with practical problem-solving, the session challenged pupils to apply their engineering, mathematical, technological, and scientific skills in creative ways.

The workshop began with an introduction to STEM and the role of engineers in solving real-world problems. Pupils then worked in small teams to build basic Lego robots capable of following simple algorithms for forward movement. After establishing the fundamentals, they customised their robots, giving each one a unique appearance, and explored coding algorithms to make their robots follow a line and turn using angles—an exercise that required mathematical precision and problem-solving skills.

The challenge then escalated as pupils were tasked with coding their robots to navigate a zigzag line. Despite the option of two difficulty levels, most teams chose the more advanced route and achieved great success.

In the final activity, pupils addressed the pressing issue of ocean plastic pollution. Teams modified their robots to manoeuvre through a designated course while collecting plastic waste. This involved designing and engineering innovative scoops to accomplish the mission effectively.

The workshop was both fun and educational, highlighting the pupils’ impressive achievements in coding and engineering. A special thank you to Mr Barclay from Hyett Education for leading this inspiring workshop and showcasing the exciting possibilities of STEM.

The future of engineering looks bright with such enthusiastic and talented pupils! 🌟

Online Safety Talk

PC Amelia Brooker from Kent Police’s Child Centred Policing visited our school yesterday to talk to students in Years 5-8 about online safety. This session supported our current computing topic on eSafety and provided an opportunity for the children to ask questions.

Her engaging presentation captured the pupils’ interest and deepened their understanding of important e-safety issues. PC Brooker covered various online risks, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy concerns, offering valuable insights from a law enforcement perspective. Her discussion emphasised the significance of responsible online behaviour and the potential consequences of digital missteps.

In addition, the children also enjoyed learning about life in the police force, which sparked numerous questions that continued as she was leaving. Overall, PC Brooker’s visit greatly enhanced our pupils’ ability to navigate the digital world more safely and responsibly. Peter Meier

Esports Competition Round 1

Exciting times at Holmewood House as our Esports teams battle it out in the Cottesmore Esports Online competition! One Year 8 team, Fernando, Beracah and Jack, remains unbeaten, while the other, Finn Year 8 and Ralph and Harrison, Year 7, shows incredible teamwork and perseverance against tough opponents. Our young gamers are loving every moment in our newly renovated digital innovation room. We look forward to the next round—GG to all participants! Peter Meier

The Bebras Challenge

Our Year 6 and 7 pupils are excited to compete in the Bebras Challenge, an international competition running in approximately 30 countries! Organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in partnership with the University of Oxford, this challenge focuses on computational thinking through engaging online puzzles. Pupils will learn to break down problems (using decomposition and abstraction) to understand them better and come up with innovative solutions. These essential skills are not only vital for the Bebras Challenge but also apply to many elements of the computing curriculum, including coding. Let’s support our young problem-solvers as they embrace this fantastic opportunity!

Girls Esports Competition

Success in the first ever girls-only prep school esports competition!

Six girls took part in the world’s first-ever girls-only prep school esports competition, held at Cottesmore. Despite last-minute challenges, including team changes and illness, our girls showed amazing determination, adaptability, and teamwork. ⁠ ⁠

The competition featured Minecraft, Brawl Stars, and Rocket League – with limited training our girls really rose to the occasion:⁠ ⁠

🏅 Rocket League:⁠ Silver (Team 1) – narrowly missing 1st place to Roedean in a neck-and-neck final.⁠ Bronze (Team 2) – great determination from start to finish.⁠ ⁠

🏅 Brawl Stars:⁠ 2nd Place (Team 2) – after a tough match against a strong Halcyon 1 team!⁠ ⁠ 🎮 Rocket League:⁠ Silver (Team 1), Bronze (Team 2) – allowing only Roedean to share the podium⁠ ⁠

Through technical issues and tough competition, our girls remained positive, resilient, and sportsmanlike. Mr Meier adds ‘the girls were exemplary ambassadors for our school, showcasing politeness, perseverance and good humour throughout the day’. Well done to all!⁠

Year 6 Micro:bit Treasure Hunt

Our Year 6 pupils explored radio communications using the Micro:bits. The highlight was an innovative ‘Treasure Hunt’ challenge that combined coding skills with outdoor adventure. Students programmed their micro:bits to detect signals from hidden ‘beacon’ micro:bits scattered around the Quad. Each hidden device emitted two crucial numbers: one indicating the order in the combination, and another representing a padlock number. Working in pairs, our young tech enthusiasts raced against time to code their devices, locate the hidden micro:bits, and decipher the lock combination to claim their edible reward. The air was filled with excitement as several groups successfully cracked the code, demonstrating their newly acquired skills in both programming and problem-solving. This hands-on activity not only reinforced their understanding of micro:bit radio communication but also fostered teamwork and critical thinking in a fun, engaging way.