On Thursday 30 January, pupils from year 9 to year 11 competed in the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Top of the Bench competition. The competition aims to inspire excitement about chemistry in pupils aged 14 to 16 – whoever they are, wherever their skills currently lie.
The competition is an annual event organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry that has been running for over 20 years. Over time, it has grown into a prestigious event, encouraging a passion for Chemistry and providing pupils with the opportunity to engage with challenging problems, develop teamwork and enhance critical thinking skills.
The Top of the Bench competition was a fascinating and, nevertheless, challenging experience. It helped to fabricate a better understanding of what Chemistry is in my mind. I really appreciate the opportunity I was provided with, and it opened a door for me to expand on my critical thinking skills and truly push the boundaries.
Barbie (Year 10)
I had a great time competing in the Top of the Bench competition, as it was extremely interesting and fun. Although there were some challenging moments, I felt that it helped me apply the theory I'd learnt in lessons to unfamiliar questions.
Hal (Year 11)
The competition consists of both theoretical questions and a practical procedure, allowing participants to demonstrate their knowledge and problem-solving abilities in a variety of ways.
I was very glad to be able to participate in the Top of the Bench Chemistry competition both this year and last. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to learn and apply knowledge beyond the syllabus and participate in a variety of practical experiments.
Stephanie (Year 10)