Top of the Bench Cumbria
Jennifer Rochford CChem reports from the Cumbria Local Section Top of the Bench competition, which took place in October.
This year’s competition was a little different than usual. We have been following the Eurovision format where the winner from the previous year hosts the following years heats. However, with Cumbria’s large footprint and some pretty spectacular, but logistically challenging Fells, Lakes and weather in the way, transport has hindered some schools from taking part.
To that end, for the first time, we held North and South Cumbria heats, with 16 teams from 14 schools entering. The Northern competition was hosted by Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Penrith, and the Southern by Ulverston Victoria High School. We would like to thank both schools for their hospitality as without them this year’s Top of the Bench would not have been possible.
As usual the competition was based around the GCSE chemistry syllabus with two experiments and a multi-round quiz designed to challenge the pupil’s theoretical knowledge, problem solving and practical skills. Teams comprise four pupils, two from Year 9 and one each from Years 10 and 11.
Austin Friars School, Carlisle, won the Northern heat, while St Bernard’s Catholic High School, Barrow-in-Furness, won the Southern heat. The honour of representing Cumbria in the National Top of the Bench finals in Spring 2018 goes to the team with the most points overall, which was Austin Friars.
The contest was close, and the overall results were:
1st place: Austin Friars School
2nd place: Keswick School
3rd place: St Bernard’s Catholic High School
Find out more
If you would like to register interest in entering a team to next year’s competition or would like to get involved in the events that the RSC Cumbria section are organising please contact us through our web page.
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