Hulme Grammar students enjoy huge festival of science celebration
Date published: 20 October 2025
Frank Rothwell is pictured engaging with pupils and celebrating their creativity and curiosity
Hulme Grammar School marked the launch of the Brenda Mills Institute of Innovation and Technology (BMIIT) with a dynamic week of events as part of the Manchester Science Festival, celebrating excellence in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education and community engagement.
The Institute, named in honour of pioneering Hulme teacher Brenda Mills, was officially unveiled this week as a transformative hub for STEAM learning, made possible through a generous legacy gift.
It builds on Hulme’s tradition of academic excellence and its commitment to expanding opportunity for young people across Oldham and Greater Manchester.
Festival highlights
The launch was accompanied by a vibrant Festival of Science and Innovation, featuring guest lectures, competitions, and collaborative events with schools, universities, and industry partners:
Tuesday: Ethical Science and Chemistry in Action Dr Tom Ward, Senior Scientist at XCellR8, delivered a compelling lecture on biomedical innovation, exploring how cell cultures are replacing animal testing in pharmaceutical and cosmetic research.
The day also hosted the Oldham Young Scientist Competition, where Year 11 pupils from schools across the borough tackled chemistry challenges and workshops.
Visiting students like Sean and Maya from St Damien’s were inspired by the experience.
“It’s been something different,” said Sean.
“A different atmosphere… very exciting.” Maya added, “It’s really interesting looking at A-level chemistry, especially since our school doesn’t have a sixth form. It’s shown us what’s possible.”
Wednesday: Debating Matters Championship at Oldham Athletic FC - Sixth Form students from Hulme Grammar, Blue Coat, Crompton House, and Oldham Sixth Form College gathered in the boardroom and director’s boxes of Oldham Athletic FC for the second annual Debating Matters Championship.
Motions explored included:
· “In the digital age, we should not expect our online activities to remain private”
· “Populism as a threat to democracy”
Judged by a panel of experts from politics, academia, law, and industry, the debates showcased exceptional talent and respectful discourse.
Blue Coat School emerged victorious, claiming both the team trophy and best individual speaker award for student Declan.
Hulme Grammar reached the final and looks forward to reclaiming the title next year.
Thursday: Engineering for All Ages The Primary Engineer Challenge brought together over 100 pupils from Friezland, Coppice, Hulme, and Lyndhurst Primary Schools.
Delivered in partnership with Primary Engineer®, children in Years 5 and 6 explored hands-on engineering tasks, sparking early interest in design and problem-solving.
The event gave pupils the chance to work alongside real engineers and apply creativity to real-world challenges.
The afternoon was made even more special by the presence of two inspirational guests: Frank Rothwell, Oldham Athletic’s charismatic Chair, and John Grimshaw, a respected local engineer and business leader, who engaged with pupils and celebrated their creativity and curiosity.
Friday: Healthcare Futures with Dr Darren Kilroy Hulme alumnus and BMIIT Fellow Dr Darren Kilroy, now Medical Director at The Countess Chester NHS Foundation Trust, hosted a live online Q&A exploring the future of healthcare.
Drawing on a career that has spanned emergency medicine, medical education, and leadership roles in the NHS and private sector, Dr Kilroy offered students a powerful message: “The human aspect of medicine is the most important thing… the care you take to listen, to reflect, to respect differences - that’s what makes you effective in any career.”
Reflecting on his time at Hulme, he credited the school with nurturing both his scientific and creative interests, adding: “Hulme gave me breadth - I loved creative writing as much as chemistry.
"That balance helped shape who I became.”
He also encouraged students to explore the full spectrum of STEAM careers, adding: “There’s a vulnerable tendency to only think in terms of traditional roles - doctor, nurse, engineer.
"But within each of those are hundreds of pathways. The more we share those possibilities, the more we empower young people to find their place.”
Dr Chris Millington, Assistant Principal Outreach and Chemistry teacher at Hulme, reflected on the importance of integrating the arts into science education.
He said: “For science and engineering industries to flourish, there has to be creativity alongside them… architecture, design, innovation – they all need artists.
"Arts sits nicely alongside the sciences and so I’m delighted that Hulme Grammar has placed such importance on the balance of subjects.
Frank Rothwell, the iconic local businessman and chairman at Latics, rounded off the week by saying: “It was fantastic to see so many young people from across Oldham getting stuck into engineering and problem-solving.
"I left school at 14, started my own company, Manchester Cabins, and never imagined I’d one day be the chairman of Oldham Athletic and taking the club to Wembley.
"It just shows what’s possible when you work hard, believe in yourself and keep learning.
"Events like this are brilliant because they help young people see that engineering isn’t just about machines - it’s about imagination, teamwork and creating things that make a difference.”
Next up for the Brenda Mills Institute at Hulme Grammar is a 12-hour Junior Hackathon on Thursday, December 18.
Pupils aged 8 – 18 from all across Oldham and Greater Manchester are welcome to enter teams of five to test their coding skills and present to a panel of expert judges in what will be an exciting event for the next generation of computer scientists and innovators.
For more information, please email: outreach@hulmegrammar.org
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