Since our pioneering Principal Dorothea Beale introduced science into the curriculum in the late 1850s, CLC has been proud to teach and encourage students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths for over 160 years.
Despite parental opposition at the time, Dorothea Beale was a champion for women’s education and helped pave the way for change for women to learn STEAM subjects.
In celebration of National STEAM Day (8th November) and National Engineering Day (13th November), students and staff have reflected on what Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths mean to them as well as their importance in the CLC curriculum.
Both subjects offer different ways to process and view the world and I think that they complement each other in ways that are hard to fully appreciate unless you understand both. Art and science uncover the hidden layers of the world by offering a different lens, science explains the “why” behind phenomena, while art explores visual expression and aesthetics. For example, just as chemistry can explain physical interactions and reactions, art can explain how a composition can evoke certain emotions.
Without both art and chemistry, these connections would be easy to miss. Studying both subjects opens my eyes to a world of hidden layer helps me appreciate the history and emotion embedded in art, inspiring me not only as a student but as an individual.
People often underestimate the transferable skills that art builds such as stress management, handling long-term projects, meeting deadlines, research, and essay writing - all of which are invaluable in scientific work. Art also gives me a break from the structure and logic of science, offering a balance that recharges me and keeps me connected to my creative side. It’s an outlet that makes science feel more approachable, while science, in turn, enhances my appreciation for the structure and method within art.
Art makes me feel inspired and optimistic. Whenever I feel stressed from my other subjects, I turn to art as a way to reset and focus on something where I can have more freedom. It’s incredibly grounding and helps me find clarity and calm especially during exam season.
CLC has a long history of providing an exceptional science education for women and continues to be dedicated to offering a rich and vibrant science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) experience for the students.
Learning science is, for us, central to enabling our students to be able to participate fully in the challenges of the future. Scientific literacy for all, regardless of career or personal interests, is so important when making informed decisions, particularly where confusing and conflicting messages abound.
We believe that scientific thinking is both creative and critical, requiring students to be able to analyse and evaluate, understand data, recognise patterns and even manage risk. For us it is important work. We want those students who embark on a career in STEAM to be compassionate, understand the ethical challenges they will face and be brave enough, should they wish, to push at the edges of knowledge and understanding.
STEAM subjects are enormously popular here at CLC and when the national picture shows that uptake of Physics and Maths in particular is lower amongst girls than boys, we are proud that well over two thirds of girls choose to study Maths in some form at SFC, with well over half also studying at least one science subject.
Mr Gill
Head of Science
At CLC, we place a focus on responsible design. This means our students are encouraged to design and make textiles products that are sustainable, ethical and inclusive.
Our KS4 students are able to pursue an individual project qualification whereby they explore an area of deep personal significance, perhaps connected to their culture or a social, political or environmental issue. Through this they develop research and development skills, learning the value of experimentation and creative problem solving. These are such important transferrable skills!
We connect the world of fashion to science and technology through our LC1 E-Textiles project, with students learning how engineers, programmers, chemists and material scientists work within the fashion industry to develop innovative ‘smart fabrics’.
Coming from a Physics background myself, I know from a very personal perspective how interconnected and interdependent the arts and sciences are. I want to show my students that scientists can work within the creative industries and that creatives can embrace science and technology in their work to together produce groundbreaking and visually stunning outcomes!
Miss Brandon
Bayshill Housemistress
At CLC, the Engineering, Enterprise, and Technology department offers a forward-thinking curriculum designed to inspire and prepare our students for the rapidly evolving world of technology. Through hands-on learning and innovative projects, CLC students develop a wide range of skills that equip them for higher education and future careers in STEM fields.
EET fosters curiosity and creativity by allowing students to explore various disciplines such as electronics, programming, and robotics. From building circuits to coding and creating autonomous robots, students gain practical experience that helps them understand the foundational principles of modern technology. Workshop machinery is also a key part of the curriculum, giving students the opportunity to work with tools and machines that are essential in engineering and manufacturing.
Moreover, EET embraces computer-aided design (CAD), 3D printing, and laser cutting as integral parts of the design and manufacturing process. By mastering these tools, girls can envision and construct their projects from concept to reality, building confidence and technical acumen.
By nurturing a deep understanding of technology, innovation, and enterprise, we aim to equip our students with the skills, confidence, and vision to excel in the tech-driven careers of tomorrow.
Mr Plimmer
Head of EET
Maths has always been a subject I’ve never been able to get enough of. It’s exciting to be able to delve deeper and deeper into a subject which has no limits of exploration.
Math provides a universal language that can describe patterns, relationships, and structures in a clear and concise way. Its extremely satisfying and the classroom atmosphere makes the lessons extremely fun.
Taking further maths has made me realise that the more you learn, the more you realise how little you know in the greater scheme of things. It is an incredibly rewarding subject which puts a number of things into context and it’s applications are evident in everything I do.
It’s a subject which excites me due to its endless possibilities and knowing that there is no end to how much there is to learn, is both daunting and fulfilling.
We'd like to set cookies to understand how you use this site. We use services such as YouTube, Flockler and Hireroad that may also use third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our Cookies Policy.
We use these for core functionality, such as storing this cookie consent preference. These are loaded automatically and cannot be disabled by the user.
We use Google Analytics to track visits to our website and how users interact with our website. This helps us improve the way our website works.
We use Google Ads Conversions & Facebook Pixel to measure how you use and interact with our website and with our advertisements.
These cookies may be set by third party websites and do things like measure how you view videos or other content that is embedded on our site.