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Posted on: 15/03/2026Year 12 Students Explore Particle Physics at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
34 Year 12 physics students recently took part in an exciting particle physics masterclass at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), a leading national research facility.
During the visit, students attended a series of inspiring talks delivered by expert physicists from both RAL and CERN. These sessions introduced them to key areas of modern physics, including elementary particles, accelerator design, the Large Hadron Collider, and the sophisticated ways in which data is managed at such large-scale facilities.
A highlight of the day was a tour of the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, where students gained a first-hand look at a working particle accelerator. They also had the opportunity to analyse real data from the Large Hadron Collider, successfully identifying evidence of the Higgs boson with support from RAL’s Particle Physics Department.
The students had a fantastic experience at what is truly an impressive site. They engaged enthusiastically throughout the day, asked thoughtful questions, and even achieved the top score in the Higgs boson data analysis activity.
It was particularly special to reconnect with former student Stephen Riggs, who now works at RAL. Stephen kindly spoke to the group about his career journey since studying A-level Physics here (2012–2014). He went on to study Physics at the University of Oxford, completed a PhD in astrophysics, and now works in RAL’s electron microscopy division.
