FOUR Ysgol Penglais school students have won awards in a national chemistry challenge, with one of the youngsters being invited to a residential camp at the University of Cambridge for scooping the highest award.

The four students, who are studying AS chemistry at Ysgol Penglais, were successful after sitting the Cambridge Challenge, a 90-minute written paper set by teachers and university chemists for Year 12 students. All four scooped awards and Cai Langstaff achieved the highest award, the Roentgenium, which puts him in the top 0.78 per cent of over 7,000 students who entered the competition.

There was also success for Jonathon Davies, who won a gold award, with Ferdia McKeogh winning a silver award and Lauren Gwynne-Hughes taking a copper award.

Penglais head of chemistry Karen Reyers said all four students had done well in the competition.

She said: “This competition aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry, and provides an excellent experience for anyone considering taking their studies further.

“Set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists, it is designed to be accessible to Year 12 students but will take them significantly beyond the syllabus and encourage them to think about science in the way they would at university.

“Students who do well in the competition are sent certificates of achievement, and those who perform best win an invitation to a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August."

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