Competing with 20 teams from across the country, our Top of the Bench team won joint third place in the National Final at the University of Birmingham.

Henry J (S2), Elakya S (S3), Jack C (S3) and Eve C (S4) travelled with Dr Kennedy to Birmingham on Friday 8 March 2019.

Dr Kennedy shared: "The competition began on Saturday morning with a 30 minute written test which they each did individually. They all returned from this in good spirits and after lunch went off to the labs where they carried out two different practical tasks. The theme of the competition was “Properties of Materials”. Elakya and Henry measured the density of different types of plastics while Eve and Jack carried out a titration of lactic acid. We learned later that lactic acid is the starting material which is used to make poly lactic acid - a biodegradable plastic. They were well prepared, having practised a number of different experiments in the Chemistry Department during lunchtimes, so they were able to work confidently and safely in the lab. It was the icing on the cake that the team finished in third position overall. While the scores were calculated, the competitors participated in an interactive lecture by Dr Connor Stubbs on 'Plastics in our Environment'. This was a great opportunity for the pupils to experience staying on a large university campus and working in the brand new collaborative teaching laboratories."

The team progressed to the final after winning their second round heat at the University of Aberdeen in November 2018.