The Salopian no. 160 - Summer 2017

SCHOOL NEWS 5
National Science Competitions
Seven of our Upper Sixth biologists joined more than 7,500
pupils across the UK who volunteered to take part in the first
round of the Biology Olympiad 2017, organised by the Royal
Society of Biology. Between them they won two gold medals
(awarded to the top 6%), three bronze medals and two highly
commended awards.
Gold Medals: Josh Bray (Rb), Ben Jones (Rb)
Bronze Medals: Lucy Price (EDH), Josh Himsworth (Ch)
Will Bedson (Rb)
Highly Commended: Sasha Lo (EDH), Jake Elliot (Rb)
Eighty-three Third and Fourth Form biologists entered the
Biology Challenge, a national competition run as a kind
of Junior Olympiad by the Royal Society of Biology. An
impressive 58% of them won medals, nearly double the
national figure: four gold, 12 silver and 32 bronze. A further
ten pupils were highly commended and 14 commended.
The gold medallists were Lisa Alekseeva (EDH IV), Anna
Cowan (MSH IV), Freddie Lawson (SH IV) and Anthony Siu
(I IV).
Lower Sixth Former Isaac Dai (S) won a gold medal in
the British Physics Olympiad (see below) and Upper Sixth
Formers Andrew Lee (O), Mathew Hedges (Rb) and Alfredo
Stock (I) who have been awarded silver medals.
A group of Fifth Form pupils took part in British Physics
Challenge 2017 examinations. Abi Watkinson (G), Adam
Pattenden (S) and Mark Pangin (SH) were in the top 5.5%
who achieved gold medals. Five pupils won silver medals, six
won bronze I medals and eight won bronze II.
Our Sixth Form Chemists won two gold, nine silver and five
bronze medals in the British Chemistry Olympiad. As with
the other national Olympiads, the competition is designed
to challenge and stimulate the most talented young scientists
in the country and is open to all post-16 students in the UK.
Gold Medals were awarded to Isaac Dai (S LVI) and Andrew
Kim (S UVI)
Quadruple Olympiad Gold for Isaac Dai
It has been quite a year for Isaac Dai (S). In February,
news came through that he had finished in the top 50
of 1,680 candidates nationwide who entered the British
Physics Olympiad, which earned him a gold medal and
qualified him for the second round of the competition.
Salopians have reached this level before – the last time
in 2013 – but as far as the collective memory of the
Physics Faculty can recall, Isaac is the first Lower Sixth
Former to achieve this.
Then came news that he had also come in the top 50 of
the 1,600 candidates who took part in the British Maths
Olympiad, swiftly followed by a gold medal in the
British Chemistry Olympiad.
After attending a training camp at Cambridge University
during the Easter holidays, Isaac achieved the distinction
of becoming the first ever Salopian to be selected to
represent Team UK at the 11th International Olympiad
on Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Isaac Dai