Super Scientist brings her energy and excitment to Wilbarston Primary School

Scores of excited boys and girls rolled up their sleeves and got very hands on at Wilbarston Primary School as Kerry Esgate-Green worked her magic.

The school hall was quickly powered up into a hub of learning, awe and sheer wonder as Kerry, 44, brought British Science Week home with a bang on Wednesday March 4.

Kerry, who set up her trailblazing one-woman Super Scientists show last August, wowed the kids as she led them through a whole string of fascinating activities.

“The children here love what we do and I love every minute as well.

“I come to local schools such as Wilbarston primary looking for our top scientists of the future,” said the pumped-up mum-of-two.

“I actually ask the kids ‘are you going to be the scientists of tomorrow?’

“I really want to inspire them because we are going to need them if we are going to save our precious planet.

“The youngsters of today will be the super scientists of tomorrow.

“So it’s crucial that we fire them up right here and right now as they start out in life.”

Kerry taught science at Harborough’s Robert Smyth School for 15 years after a successful spell at nearby Welland Park Academy.

“I started doing Super Scientists part-time before taking the plunge to quit Robert Smyth altogether and go it alone last autumn.

“I go into schools all over Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire running an after-hours science club,” said in-demand Kerry, of Cottingham, who’s already booked up for all of 2020.

“I’ve been working with the kids here at Wilbarston for 10 weeks, putting on one-hour sessions.

“I’ve invested in a lot of kit so we do experiments, carry out tests and focus on the practical rather than just sitting talking.

“The kids really get into it and their parents love it too.

“I just hope to pass on my intense passion for science as well as my knowledge and expertise.

“Here today we are focusing in on everything from pollution to bees, insects, meat and slashing toxic plastic waste.

“We are zooming in on our diverse planet.

“How to tackle oil spills using bacteria, rescue and save wildlife, the threats posed by palm oil and deforestation to animals like orang utans and meat.

“Farm animals impose a massive strain on our environment so we all need to eat less meat.

“We are studying the terrifying reduction in the number of bees and how we can better protect these fantastic creatures.

“Micro-plastics and pollution are also highly-topical subjects at the top of the agenda.

“Children here will also be carrying out special tests on larva and insects such as locusts to measure their protein.

“We have plenty of insects, they are high in protein and they could be a brilliant source of food for the future.”

Katie Curran, the Snowy Owl class teacher and science co-ordinator at Wilbarston Primary, said: “It’s a great day and the children are so excited – there’s a real buzz about the whole school.

“We have about 30 children who have regularly gone along to the science club classes and they’ve gone down a treat.

“We really appreciate Kerry coming in.

“She totally grabs the children’s imagination and it’s a highlight we all look forward to.”

She said the Victorian school, which dates back to the 1860s and overlooks the magnificent Welland Valley, has about 100 pupils aged from 4-11.

“We’ve got chickens, mice and a hamster here and we’re hoping to plant our very own little forest,” said Katie.

As for the kids themselves, Kaitlyn, eight, of Wilbarston, said: “I love learning about nature – the birds, the bees, everything.

“I want to be a vet when I grow up.”

Bradley, six, of Rothwell, said: “I’m having a fab time – I just want to learn new things.”

Freya, seven, of Wilbarston, said: “I enjoy going to the after-school science club and carrying out amazing experiments.”

Last but not least, Lacey, nine, of Corby, said: “I like learning about working to save the environment.

“Climate change is very important to me.

“We all have to work together to try to stop it and I might become a scientist when I leave school.”