There was blend of creativity and calculation on display as year 9 students from Shireland CBSO Academy visited Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
Students took part in a Movie Maths workshop, exploring how concepts such as scale, proportion and timing are used across the film industry. The session formed part of the Studio Tour’s wider education programme, which is designed to support the national curriculum by highlighting the links between classroom subjects and careers in the creative industries.
Opened in 2012 at the site where all eight Harry Potter films were produced, the Studio Tour was created to preserve and showcase original sets, props and costumes from the series. Visitors can explore soundstages and a backlot featuring detailed environments, animatronic creatures and practical effects, offering a behind-the-scenes insight into the filmmaking process.
The education programme encourages students to engage with both the technical and creative elements of production, demonstrating the wide range of skills involved, from design and engineering through to mathematics and digital effects.
Following the workshop, students were able to explore the studios, seeing first-hand how these elements come together on screen. The visit formed part of the Academy’s wider approach to linking learning to real-world contexts.
School Principal, David Green, commented: “It’s one thing teaching maths in a classroom, but it really comes alive when students see it being used in the real world. Days like this help them understand why it matters. You could see students making the connection as they went round, and they came away with a much clearer sense of how their learning connects with real jobs and industries.”
The Academy is committed to providing opportunities that take learning beyond the classroom and help students see how their studies apply in different contexts.
