In May 2026,  22 Grade 10 students participated in the National Scientific Thinking Challenge, a competition developed by academics from the Universities of Warwick, Notthingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester, and Oxford.

Originally created during the pandemic to encourage and inspire students, the challenge has now engaged more than 55,000 students internationally. Unlike traditional science tests, the National Scientific Thinking Challenge does not assess recall of taught content. Instead, students are asked to analyse data, interpret graphs, identify patterns, evaluate evidence, formulate hypotheses, and apply scientific reasoning to unfamiliar situations. The challenge rewards curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills rather than memorisation.

This year, approximately 16,000 Year 10 students took part in the competition from all over the world. All participants are ranked together, and awards are given to students who place within the highest-performing groups nationally.

We are delighted to congratulate our Grade 10 students on their excellent results:
• 4 students achieved Gold Awards, placing them in the top 10% 
• 3 students achieved Silver Awards, placing them in the top 25% 
• 4 students achieved Bronze Awards, placing them in the top 40% 

In total, 11 of our 22 participants received recognition, meaning that half of our students earned an award in this highly competitive challenge.

We are incredibly proud of all students who accepted the challenge and demonstrated the scientific thinking, resilience, and intellectual curiosity that lie at the heart of science. Their success reflects not only strong reasoning skills but also a willingness to tackle unfamiliar problems with confidence and perseverance.

Congratulations to all participants on this outstanding achievement!