As many of you know, our Science Block (the Bevan Lean Laboratories) was in need of some revitalization in order to provide an inspiring environment to create Sidcot STEM changemakers of the future. Over seven weeks in the Summer of 2023, five of the Science labs were entirely renovated, including the installation of new furniture, fume cupboards and pod work stations, new LED lighting, non-slip latex flooring and suspended ceilings, improved gas and water access for experiments and new smartboards for teaching.

While the School largely funded this work, very generous gifts from Old Scholars, current students, staff, retired staff, and friends of the School made the dream a reality. In recognition of this support, we purchased named elements for our Periodic Table, which takes pride of place in the Science Labs Foyer.

It has been a joy to see our 'Periodic Table of Sidcotians' come together over the past ten months. Currently we have 76 of the 118 elements spoken for. Among them are alumni, current students, staff, retired staff, friends of the school, notable Sidcotians and many names that our alumni just wanted to see remembered as playing a huge part in their own Science careers at School and beyond. 

It was fun to see some notable Sidcotian Scientists take the lead, with Professor Anthony Watts selecting Iridium (Ir) to carry his name. When we asked why this particular element, he said;

"Because it's one of the few elements associated with outer space and extra-terrestrial life."

This sounded like a great reason to us. Anthony was closely followed by one of our governors, Professor Peter Openshaw. I had suggested that he might like to take on Polonium (Po), recognising these to be his initials. He politely refused and made us laugh when he said:

“I would rather not, Polonium is really quite creepy stuff and that’s what killed Alexander Litvinenko.”

Instead, he opted for Mercury (Hg) for himself and Tungsten (W) for his wife as he thought they were more fun reactive metals to be associated with. Thanks to the Class of 1984 for bravely taking on Polonium instead (as it carries an atomic number of 84).   

Cavers Phil and Chris Davies were next to stake a claim for Calcium (Ca) for their fond memories of spending time in the many calcium caves of the Mendip Hills during their time in School. Family elements proved popular too; thanks to the Marriott family for taking on Magnesium (Mg) to celebrate three generations of the Marriott and Morgan family time at Sidcot.

Jenny Hau, Andrew Connolly and Lucy Lean also supported tiles in their families' names and for teachers and house parents they wanted to see recognised as part of our Periodic table of Sidcotians.   

Many thanks to The Class of 1959 for jointly taking on the 59th element Praseodymium (Pr), to Jonathan Fox for his contribution to the 60th element Neodymium (Nd) for the Class of 1960, to the Class of '68 for their support of Erbium (Er), to the Class of 1969 for taking on Thulium (Tm) and to the Class of '53 for taking on the 53rd element Iodine in addition to Rhenium (Re) and Tantalum (Ta), in memory of their favourite teachers Dick Harman, Arthur Baines, Rosemary Bloomfield and headmistress Evelyn Phillips. Thanks also to a number of Sidcotians from the 80's & 90's who contributed to Protactinium (Pa) in memory of their Science teacher Peter Attoe. Also, to Enid Smith, volunteer and friend of Sidcot who sponsored Zirconium in memory of her late husband and Sidcotian Patrick Smith and her cat Zac. As a retired medic Enid said:

"I just like the name, it's resistance to corrosion and the fact it was used in the nuclear industry, which seems appropriate as Patrick worked in the industry at Hinckley Point B."

Sidcotian David Harries also sponsored Silver (Ag), in part due to his love of photography and to mark the upcoming 25th anniversary of his graduation from Sidcot School in 2025. Our heartfelt thanks also goes out to the Sidcot Education Trust, which took on several elements in memory of notable Sidcotians and Scientists to support the renovations.  

Some class elements are still only partially funded; if you would like to make a contribution to your or your child's class element then you can do so here.  

There are also a remaining 44 individual elements available to claim. If you would like to take one on personally, as a family or to support a class element you can do so on this link or by emailing Rachele or Sarah on development@sidcot.org.uk. 

Which element would you pick and why? The elements that are still available to claim include: 

• Neon - Ne
• Sodium - Na
• Silicon - Si 
• Argon - Ar
• Arsenic - As 
• Yttrium - Y
• Molybdenum - Mo 
• Technetium - Tc
• Cadmium - Cd 
• Indium - In
• Cerium - Ce 
• Promethium - Pm
• Samarium - Sm
• Europium - Eu
• Terbium - Tb  
• Ytterbium - Yb
• Hafnium - Hf
• Osmium - Os
• Bismuth - Bi 
• Astatine - At
• Radon -  Rn
• Radium - Ra
• Thorium - Th 
• Uranium - U
• Neptunium - Np 
• Plutonium - Pu 
• Americium - Am 
• Berkelium - Bk 
• Fermium - Fm 
• Mendelevium - Md
• Nobelium - No 
• Lawrencium - Lr 
• Dubnium - Db 
• Seaborgium - Sg 
• Bohrium - Bh 
• Meitnerium - Mt 
• Roentgenium - Rg 
• Copernicium - Cn 
• Flerovium - Fl 
• Moscovium - Mc
• Tennessine - Ts
• Oganesson - Og

Do you have an interesting story behind your element choice not noted above? If so, let us know!