CSI Stowe

23 March 2016

Yellow and black sticky tape declaring ‘Police Crime Scene’ isn’t what every Third Former expects to see on entering the Science Department - unless it’s National Science Week. For the week commencing 14 March, the Science Department staged the alleged murder of Head of Science, Mr Tearle, by one of seven suspected teachers and every Third Former became a forensic scientist trying to discover the identity of the murderer.

Allocated to teams of four, under a chosen team leader, every science lesson engaged the Stoics in a series of independent forensic examinations that eventually led to the elimination of six of the seven suspects. Skilfully choreographed by Mr Thompson, the pupils made notes of the crime scene, analysed substances found there; measured blood spatter patterns; chromatographed the poison pen letter; decoded a secret cipher; DNA tested hair; matched fingerprints to the suspects; calculated the pressure of footprints on the floor and examined potential weapon indentations. With no one telling them whether their conclusions were right or wrong and competition between teams, there was pressure to pay attention to detail and work together as a team. At the end of the week, each team leader presented their report, naming the culprit and giving evidence for their choice. The Third Form engaged with the activities with whole-hearted enthusiasm. 

The Third Form would like to thank Mr Thompson, Mrs Gracie, Dr Coomber, Mr Donoghue and the Science Technicians for their commitment to this brilliant experience.

And the murderer? Commendably bypassing the red-herring that was Miss Davies, some teams were able to accurately determine that it was Mr Teasdale!