RSC Schools' Analyst Competition
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Schools' Analyst Competition enables students competing in Year 12 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to demonstrate and expand on their existing chemistry knowledge, skills and aptitude for analytical science through practical analytical experiments based on relevant societal or industrial problems. Some tasks in the competition are relatively familiar to the students, such as titrations and unfamiliar tasks, such as chromatographic separations or atomic and molecular spectroscopy.
Ten teams of Year 12 Chemistry students from Kendrick participated in the first round of the competition. This year’s challenge saw students step into the shoes of professional analytical chemists, working alongside the Department of Housing to assess the safety of a former industrial site for residential development. Each team was provided with soil and waste heap samples to analyse, to determine whether the land was suitable for building and how any potential hazards could be mitigated.
Throughout the competition, students demonstrated exceptional scientific aptitude and technical skill. They carried out a range of advanced analytical techniques, including titrations, chromatographic separation, and flame emission spectroscopy, showcasing their precision, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
Submissions were judged by the Royal Society of Chemistry, and we are delighted to announce that the winning Kendrick team are Team 7 of Zara, Lulu, and Mady.
Congratulations to all the students who took part in this exciting and challenging event. Your hard work and enthusiasm for science were truly inspiring.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated chemistry technicians, Mr. Miller and Mrs. Kuruppu, for their invaluable support in organising and facilitating this opportunity.
Student comments:
"We enjoyed the challenge, not only because it allowed flexibility in the tasks that we completed and the pace at which we worked, but also because the context gave us a sense of direction and made the whole experience really fulfilling." - Gordie, Elina and Sophia
"We really enjoyed applying the practical skills we've learnt at Kendrick in a real-world context. It has also given us deep insights into chemical analysis. Our teamwork created an amazingly collaborative atmosphere - such a rewarding experience!" - Nitya, Alexis and Maria