This year, we proudly hosted our annual Science Summer School 2026, once again bringing together students from across the Tower Hamlets borough and the wider Trust for a memorable celebration of science. The theme, Everyone is a Scientist, encouraged every student to recognise their own potential to question, investigate and innovate.

The event welcomed leading scientist Professor Brian Cox alongside Lord Mawson, both of whom returned to inspire students and emphasise the United Kingdom’s continued strength as a global leader in scientific education and discovery. Their sessions gave students a powerful sense of wonder about the universe, while reinforcing the importance of curiosity in driving scientific progress.

A diverse range of guest speakers contributed to the programme, including Corrie Mayne, Dave Neale, Jim Perks, Lord Ravendale, Maria Rossini and Solveiga Pakštaitė. Each speaker shared their expertise and personal experiences, helping students to understand the breadth of opportunities available within science, technology and related fields.

Students engaged in a wide variety of hands-on workshops and activities. These included organ dissection, experiments exploring the properties of dry ice, and close encounters with live animals such as snakes, lizards and meerkats. They also explored robotics through demonstrations featuring advanced robotic dogs, offering an exciting glimpse into emerging technologies and future engineering careers.

The programme was further enriched through partnerships and workshop leads including the NHS, Queen Mary University of London, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the University of Greenwich and HSBC, who delivered engaging coding workshops and career focused sessions.

SPW Sixth Form students also took part in an exclusive session with Professor Brian Cox, deepening their subject knowledge and ambition.

The event concluded with an inspiring tea party with Professor Cox, where students were able to ask questions directly and reflect on their experiences.

The Science Summer School 2026 was a landmark event that demonstrated the scale of ambition within the school and the power of collaboration between education and industry. It left students inspired, motivated and eager to pursue their future in science.

We would also like to thank the generosity of our funders, the Tasso Foundation, RMG Associates and the Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation. Their continued support makes it possible to deliver this enriching event each year, and we are extremely grateful for their commitment and belief in our vision.

This experience reflects our school value of Aspiration. It links because the event encouraged students to aim high, explore ambitious scientific pathways and develop the confidence to believe in their ability to achieve and succeed in the future.