Over the past 18 months, PSTT Fellow Nathan Williams has developed a thriving school apiary, giving pupils meaningful, hands-on science experiences. Today, beekeeping has become part of the Year 6 curriculum at Nathan’s school, with pupils helping to inspect the hive, collect data and share updates with the wider school community.

The project began with support from Bees4Schools, an initiative by the British Bee Charity that provides grants to UK schools to establish on-site beehives. After their first colony unexpectedly left over winter, pupils harvested and sold the remaining honey, raising enough money to fund a new colony.

Nathan said:

“The presence of the hive has generated immense enthusiasm across all year groups, significantly raising awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem.”

Congratulations to Nathan and everyone at St Peter’s Junior School for creating such a valuable opportunity for children to experience science beyond the classroom.

Find out more about the Bees4Schools programme and how your school could get involved.