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The Schools’ Analyst Competition took a different form in 2021, following on from an entirely virtual competition in 2020. This year 200 schools and colleges from around the UK and Ireland took on the challenge of identifying the contents of waste barrels found abandoned by a river in the fictional town of Allvale, all from the socially-distanced comfort of their own classrooms.

Through a combination of thin layer chromatography, flame tests, and chemical reactions, students worked in teams of three to carry out their analyses, interpret their results, and recommend methods for clean-up.

Nearly 1000 teams took part in this year’s competition with each school announcing a winning trio. Each school winner was entered into competitions for each of the nine Analytical Division regions, with these students each taking home a £50 prize along with £500 for their school to spend on their science department (see the winning teams below).

Congratulations to our Regional Winners

The winners in each of the Analytical Division regions were:

Scotland: Elgin Academy, Elgin

Northern Ireland: St. Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, Belfast

North-West: Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay

Republic of Ireland: Moate Community School, Moate

Midlands: The Thomas Adams School, Wem

North East: Greenhead College, Huddersfield

East Anglia: Haileybury School, Haileybury

South West: Kingsbridge Community College, Kingsbridge

South East: Tonbridge School, Tonbridge

School's Analyst Competition 2022

The practical Schools’ Analyst Competition will return in 2022 with details to be announced shortly. Visit the Analytical Division Events website for more details.

Acknowledgements

The Schools’ Analyst Competition was funded by the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund with support from the UUÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ of Chemistry's Analytical Division. The kits were created and distributed by Northumbria University, Newcastle. . 

by Graeme Turnbull (Northumbria University), Schools' Analyst Coordinator

September 2021