Barratt London recently teamed up with Science Boffins – a company providing fun, interactive science sessions for kids – to bring an educational Zoom session to pupils at St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School this British Science Week (5th – 14th March). The virtual science lesson was organised to honour the history behind Barratt London’s Ridgeway Views development in Mill Hill, built on the site of the former National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), where history was made when scientists created the first flu vaccine and volunteered to test it themselves.

The session included a range of exciting experiments, such as elephant’s toothpaste, skewer balloons, vibrating rod and rosin, and exploding film canisters.

Emma Doherty, Science Co-ordinator at St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, said: “We’re very grateful to Barratt London for providing the activity. Most pupils are a bit ‘Zoomed out’ after home-schooling for so long, but this activity from Science Boffins had the children completely hooked and ready for their return to school on Monday to continue their pursuit of excitement in Science lessons! There was an explosion of learning going on this afternoon that will see the children return with a bang!”

Over lockdown, it has been hard for schools to conduct their regular science lessons as it’s very much a “hands-on” subject. This is why they tell parents to look for cool science kits to do with your children, find ways to make a Zoom lecture more exciting, and even put together cheap, simple experiments that the students can do from home. Events like this one really help the students find their love for science and get them excited for their return to the classrooms.

The NIMR was a ground-breaking centre of excellence set up in 1914, which moved to Mill Hill in 1950. The Institute aimed to create a multi-disciplinary research environment, where experts in science, medicine and technology could work together. As scientists today once again battle to defeat a killer virus, one of the first challenges that the Institution faced was the Spanish flu epidemic. It was at the NIMR that scientists first isolated the virus responsible for the flu and made the first flu vaccine, where medical history was made when one of the Institute’s own staff volunteered to test the world’s first flu jab.

Pam Reardon, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt East London, comments: “The redevelopment of the NIMR has provided a wonderful opportunity to give a future to a site with such a rich history. We hope the children at St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School enjoyed Science Boffins’ presentation. Following the recent Budget announcement of 1.6bn being injected into science, and the plan for the UK to become a ‘scientific superpower’, we hope that this session may even have inspired a few budding scientists.”

Nowadays, the NIMR forms part of the Francis Crick Institute near St Pancras station, where its vital work continues. In its place, Barratt London’s 47-acre Ridgeway Views is ideal for downsizers and growing families alike, with a selection of two and three-bedroom apartments currently available from 690,000.