From the lower school, a total of nineteen Year 9 and 10 students completed the British Biology Challenge in April, which consists of two 25-minute papers. From this group, one student achieved bronze, seven achieved a silver award and six students received a gold award.

The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) is a challenging competition for students in post-16 education in the UK. It aims to test and challenge students with an interest in Biology to expand and enhance their problem-solving skills.  The BBO is not just about assessing knowledge; it encourages students to apply biological principles to new and unfamiliar situations, fostering critical thinking and a deeper passion for the subject. 

Ellie from Year 12 has written this for us:  
"I was initially quite nervous about the Biology Olympiad, as you could be asked about anything on the A-level curriculum, but there wasn't anything that I couldn't guess at. There were also questions about new ideas that were explained very clearly. Most of the questions required me to think in depth and apply concepts to new situations. I achieved a gold award, which made me eligible for the second round - I had to read and research around a scientific paper on the origins of cells in atheromas. I found the challenge very enjoyable and would recommend anyone studying Biology to try it."

As a department, we are so proud of the achievements of the students, and we look forward to seeing more students sign up next year, to challenge their understanding of Biological Sciences. 

Mrs Davidson - Biology Department