The Pocklingtonian 2018/19 | Page 49

CURRICULUM// CHEMISTRY / BIOLOGY RSC ANALYST FINALS Wednesday 20th March dawned just as any other day at Pocklington School but who could know what a fantastic finish was to follow. Today was the day that three intrepid Lower Sixth Shemistry students were to compete in the North East regional heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Analyst Competition. To get to this stage the students had already needed to best their Pocklington peers in a qualifying round designed by the great minds of the chemistry department. These students had been chosen based on a combination of their chemistry knowledge, practical prowess and ability to work together as a team. The teachers of the chemistry department were confident they had selected well, however this was the first year that Pocklington had taken students to compete in this competition so all remained only cautiously optimistic. There were eight other teams competing in this rounds from across the north east but the Pocklington students stood out, not just because of their distinctive blue lab coats but because of their calm professionalism when working together. They were tireless in their attempts and completed the last question just as the time was up. It was a nail biting nine days wait for the results to come in but finally Pocklington School were announced the winners with the second place runners up Hymers and third place going to Wyke College. The Pocklington team will now go on to compete in the final round in June, which is being hosted at the University of Manchester. Thank you to the RSC and the University of Hull for sponsoring and hosting the competition and a huge well done to our Pocklington team! After negotiating the Hull afternoon traffic, Dr Andrew’s driving and the lack of air conditioning all arrived safely at the Chemistry Department at the University of Hull. Bolstered by Appetizer and a few encouraging words the students donned lab coat and safety specs and headed into the laboratory. The RSC Analyst Competition is run annually and is an opportunity for lower 6th chemistry students that plan to continue onto the A level chemistry course to gain experience working in a university undergraduate laboratory. The challenge is for the students to complete a series of experiments in a set time that combine the knowledge, and techniques they have so far learnt with new techniques only available in a university setting. BIOLOGY FIELD STUDY AREA The biology department have been very pleased to be allowed a new field study area this year. We have made full use of it, with pupils across all years, comparing its biodiversity with the school playing fields and the Spinny, our long established conservation area. The pupils have been able to identify over 43 plant species, excluding grasses and trees, with the expert help of Mr Andrews. Some interesting varieties have included hemlock, opium poppies, common fiddle neck, comfrey and black hore hound. We look forward to fungi forages and invertebrate studies in the autumn. YORK UNIVERSITY GENETICS DAY We took U6 biologists to York University biology department for the first time this year. They spent the day in the university laboratories discovering, and carrying out, various manipulations of DNA and analysing their own DNA fingerprinting experiments. They were also very lucky to have an opportunity to tour the microscope department and use the latest laser and electron microscopes. After an unenthusiastic start in the morning, Harriet Green was heard to say that ‘it had been really cool and that she actually understanding it all!’ THE POCKLINGTONIAN 47