A GROUP of local students have struck science gold at the National Olympiad.

Nineteen chemistry students from Launceston College Sixth Form, part of Athena Learning Trust, have taken on one of the UK’s toughest school science challenges, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Olympiad, and emerged with an impressive haul of awards, including two prestigious golds.

The Olympiad is designed to stretch the very best young chemists in the country, testing not only their subject knowledge but also their problem-solving and application skills. Although it includes hints and content from GCSE and A Level curricula, the paper quickly progresses to university-level questions. It’s especially tough for Year 12 students, many of whom have only covered a fraction of their A Level content by that point in the academic year.

Despite the difficulty, Launceston Sixth’s students rose to the challenge. Charlotte and Niamh, both in Year 13, secured Gold awards, placing them in the top nine per cent of entrants nationwide. Seth, Rowan, and Abel also in Year 13, achieved silver, and Year 12 student Eddie proudly earned a bronze, a remarkable achievement given the early stage of his A Level studies.

Students prepared for the Olympiad by giving up their free time every fortnight to attend evening sessions with college staff, who supported them in developing the advanced skills needed to succeed.

Mr Matthew Thompson, principal at Launceston College, said: “We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part in this year’s Chemistry Olympiad. Their commitment, curiosity, and determination to go above and beyond is truly impressive. These results reflect not only their academic strength but also the dedication of our staff and the vibrant learning culture we foster here at Launceston. Congratulations to everyone involved and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next year!”