PRIESTLEY’S Chemistry students pitted their minds against peers across the country in a national olympiad.
Rachel Da Luz Vieira and William Evans both struck gold, collecting the highest prize in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad meaning they were in the top 8% of the 14,915 students who took part.
“I was surprised to finish in the top 8%,” said Rachel, a former Penketh High pupil who is planning to study Chemistry at University of Manchester.
“The paper was all about problem-solving and applying what we had learned about Chemistry in class.”
William, an ex-Bridgewater High pupil, added: “There is a big creative thinking element to it, which is something that I like.”
As well as Priestley’s Second Year gold medallists, there were four silvers and a bronze awarded. First Years Stuart Roberts and Billy Cave also collected bronze – a year ahead of when they would normally expect to sit the paper.
Their achievement meant all Priestley students who took part were awarded a medal.
Chemistry teacher Lewis Edwards-Yates said: “The excellent achievement reflects the collective hard work of students and staff at Priestley. Working hard to embrace challenge and to seize opportunities to develop is at the heart of what happens here.”
Students attended extra stretch and challenge sessions in their own time to prepare for the olympiad.
To achieve silver, students had to be in the top 4,963 nationally (top 33%) and gold was awarded to those in the top 1,238.
