MEMBERS of a Highgate School team have proved they have chemistry by finishing first in a national competition. On April 24, the schoolboys won the national final of the Royal Society of Chemistry s Top of the Bench competition, which took

Ben McPartland

MEMBERS of a Highgate School team have proved they have chemistry by finishing first in a national competition.

On April 24, the schoolboys won the national final of the Royal Society of Chemistry's Top of the Bench competition, which took place at the Science Museum and Imperial College.

The team was made up of Max Jamilly, from Year 11, David Ooi, from Year 10, and Charlie Bruce and Jack Saville, from Year 9.

Along with 26 other schools, Highgate was put through an intense day of activities - involving theory, research and practical tests.

Head of chemistry at the school, Kamaljit Baines, said: "The school is very proud of the students. It's a nice feather in our caps.

"They were delighted to have won but because of the way they read the scores out in reverse order they did not think they had won it. It was very tense."

The team was able to compete in the national final after triumphing in the local heats earlier in the year.

This year is the first time a team from Highgate has managed to triumph after making it to national finals in the last two years.

The four boys were each given £25 worth of vouchers for WH Smith for their part in the victory.

Mr Baines said: "They are a very good set of chemistry students. I don't know if they were confident they could win it but they prepared themselves well.

"I think it all went to plan for them. During the final, the team took part in a rigorous test on chemical knowledge, a practical problem-solving exercise and an information-gathering exercise in the museum."

And according to Mr Baines, the victory is a sign of the strength of chemistry in the school:

"It's a very popular subject - more than half of lower sixth form are taking it. Our chemistry society is keenly attended. The students are good chemists - but they are also good all rounders."

ben.mcpartland@hamhigh.co.uk