At King's Leadership Academy Warrington, science has been brought to life thanks to In the Lab, a brilliant initiative run by Senior Science Technician Phil Walker. The idea behind In the Lab was to showcase a wide range of exciting practical experiments to engage and inspire the students. Mr Walker and the science team wanted to offer something to the students who already have a passion for science, as well as reach those who may not yet be particularly interested in the subject.
In the Lab’s YouTube videos aren’t usually aimed at a particular year group, they’re created with everyone in mind. Some go into more detail than others, but the objective is always to make science engaging, fun and accessible. Students love seeing the videos in their lessons and are always asking when the next one will come out, which demonstrates the impact that In the Lab is having.
While Mr Walker is the face behind most of the videos, he’s had help along the way from various teachers. Mr Morris has been especially involved in the new live broadcasts, which began this year. These are after-school sessions that students can tune into from home, featuring interactive experiments, Q&As and special guests. To their knowledge, King’s Warrington is the first school doing live science broadcasts for students, which makes it even more special.
Not only are staff getting involved, students have been a huge part of the journey too. Some have taken on presenter roles, while others help behind the scenes. Two names that stand out for Mr Walker are Hannah Bramwell, who’s become a familiar on-screen assistant, and Isaac Ford, who enjoys the filming and editing side of things. The team effort behind In the Lab is one of the reasons it’s become an integral part of the school community.
The experiments showcased range from the required practicals for GCSEs to the kind of science anyone can try at home. The team loves using reactive chemicals to create safe but exciting reactions, showing students how scientific knowledge can lead to incredible results. One day they might be building static charge with the Van de Graaff generator, the next, they’re investigating wildlife in the school garden. The freedom to explore these ideas outside of standard lessons gives students a chance to enjoy science for the joy of discovery.
What really sets In the Lab apart is how much it means to the students. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Students mention the videos in their end-of-year notes to staff, and even younger students in local primary schools have started watching them. Year 6 pupils have said the videos help them feel less nervous about joining the school because they’ve already seen familiar faces and know what to expect. In the Lab has become more than just demonstrating science experiments; it’s a way to build confidence and inspire curiosity.
Mr Walker explains what a joy it has been to be part of the In the Lab journey: “Over the last few years, it's been great to be involved in an initiative that has been enjoyed by literally thousands of people—we have hundreds of subscribers and often get thousands of views to certain videos! It has been a joy to be part of something that students enjoy and it is so nice when they come up to me at different times of the day and tell me which videos they've been watching and how they love what we do. When we write notes for the students and the students write notes for the staff at the end of the year, the YouTube channel often comes up in my notes, showing me just how much our students value the opportunity to watch, enjoy and take part in something they just wouldn't have at other schools. We'll be producing videos for some time to come so I hope, if you give the channel a watch, you'll enjoy it too!”
Staff across the Trust can check out In the Lab by following the link In The Lab - YouTube or searching @inthelab888 on YouTube. In the Lab is more than a video series; it’s a valuable part of life at King’s Warrington and a brilliant example of how creativity and passion can make a real impact.