08 Feb 08

The sixth formers who have been nominated by their school as Outstanding Biologists of 2007-08. Credit: Rob Judges.

Twenty-six winners from schools throughout Oxfordshire received prizes at the Sixth Form Biologist of 2007-08 ceremony held at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on 7 February.

State and independent schools were represented at the event, hosted by the University of Oxford and the Oxfordshire Independent and State School Partnership (OISPP). Professor Iain Campbell, Professor of Biochemistry at Oxford University, presented certificates and book tokens to the winners. Pupils, parents and teachers were then given a lecture and tour of the museum by the Assistant Curator of Entomological Collections, Dr George McGavin.

The OISSP Project Director and science teacher at Didcot Girls’ School, Tom Kempton, said: ‘ This event is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the outstanding effort being made by students and their teachers in all schools across Oxfordshire. We are particularly short of students opting to take sciences at A’ level and this award recognises the efforts being put in by outstanding students. We hope that by recognising their efforts, they will be encouraged to continue biology-related courses at university.

‘We hope the award ceremonies will become an annual feature to encourage and reward those students taking up the sciences at A’ level.'

The winners are: Steven Avery (Banbury School, Banbury), Megan Shirley (Bartholomew School, Eynsham), Deborah Newman (Bicester Community College), Lydia De-Meis (Blessed George Napier), Rose Skevington (Bloxham School), James Winkley (Cokethorpe School), Susie Liddle (Didcot Girls’ School), Edward Ivimey-Cook (d’Overbroeck’s College), Eamon Staunton (Fitzharry’s School), Kayley Hatton (Gosford Hill School), Claire Allen (Headington School), Rebecca Hibbert (John Mason School), Verena Skinner (King Alfred's College), Claire Lasko (Lord Williams School), Lewis Taylor (Matthew Arnold School), Victoria Ivimey-Cook (Our Lady's, Abingdon Senior School),  Emmanuel Lagadi (Oxford Community School),  Alexandra Scarfe (Rye St Antony),    Amelia Astley (School of St Helen and St Katharine),  Brittani Lea (Shiplake College), Ian Godfrey (St Birinus School), Chokanan Taitirarot (St Edward's School),   Klara Wanelik (The Cherwell School), Harriet Aubrey-Jones (Henley College), Jonathan Smith (Wallingford School), and Hing Yang Tsang (Wychwood School).  

This is the second award ceremony to be held for sixth formers taking science: in October 2007, schools were also invited to nominate one outstanding Year 13 student for Sixth Form Chemist of 2007, hosted by Oxford University, the OISSP and the Society of Chemical Industry (Thames and Kennett Group).