Pipers successfully achieve Royal Society Partnership Grant

Pipers Corner School is delighted to share that we have been awarded a prestigious Royal Society Partnership Grant, enabling our students to take part in an engaging, hands-on scientific investigation focused on sustainable food production and Hydroponics. This exciting opportunity will bring cutting edge STEM learning directly into the heart of school life.

A key feature of the Project is our partnership with Associate Professor Jennifer Carter at the University of Oxford a specialist in Global Health Science and Epidemiology. She will work closely with students throughout the entire project, visiting twice a term and supporting them with scientific thinking, hypothesis development and data interpretation. We are also pleased to involve Dr Keren Papier, Senior Nutritional Epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, whose expertise will enrich the learning experience even further, ensuring students benefit from the guidance of two highly-respected researchers.

The project centres on introducing students to the principles of the planetarian diet and demonstrating how hydroponic systems can support this sustainable, plant forward way of eating.

Hydroponic units grow plants without soil, using water and nutrients to produce crops at much faster rates, an approach that aligns with the diet’s emphasis on reducing environmental impact through efficient food production. The systems installed at Pipers are expected to take only five-eight weeks for produce to be ready for the School’s caterers. Students will compare two types of units, a tower system and a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) cabinet, to determine which is most effective and whether the School should consider investing in further units. These systems will be displayed in accessible areas of the School so the whole community can follow the project's progress.

This is a two-year journey beginning with Year 8 and continuing through Year 9. Students will learn about vertical farming, sustainability and nutrition; monitor growth weekly; analyse data; and work collaboratively with each other and external partners. When they reach the end of Year 9, students will complete their own mini projects and present their work through a poster exhibition. The winning group will earn a special visit to the Oxford University Botanic Garden, to explore career pathways, learn about cutting edge research, and present their findings.

The official launch of the project will take place on Monday 22 June 2026, marking the start of an innovative and inspiring learning experience. Throughout the project, students may also have opportunities to visit industrial hydroponic sites, seeing large scale systems in action and understanding how modern farming techniques can support sustainable diets.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and excited for our students to take part in such a transformative STEM experience. With the guidance of Professor Carter and the support of specialists like Dr Papier, this project promises to deepen scientific understanding across the school and inspire the next generation of researchers and innovators.