Chemistry

In the natural sciences the question is what you can leave out when every area of life is permeated by new discovery and application. The Year 7s still do chromatography - you know that experiment with ink blots to find the constituent colours - but by Year 9 the pupils are conversant with knowledge which would have been cutting edge for A level students 30 years ago. Yes, in the chemistry labs, brought right up to date 2 years ago, there are still Bunsen burners and fume cupboards but you'll also find experimental boot polish made from original materials, and a few attempts at face cream for the girls, and that's important because girls make up a sizeable proportion of the current sixth form chemists.

Every year students leave the School to study Chemistry related degrees at University. In recent years Alexander Murray and Joseph Paddison were awarded Royal Society of Chemistry Bronze certificates in the 39th International Chemistry Olympiad. Both Alexander and Joseph moved on to read Chemistry at University, with Joseph holding a place at Wadham College, Oxford.