Page 10
Science
Royal Society of Chemistry
Top of the Bench
Competition
Geography
In December a team of KEVICC students went with Dr
Ruffle to the Faculty of Biosciences at the University
of Exeter. Students Michael Flanagan (Y11), Ewan
Baker (Y10) and Mia Poore and Runa Manby (both Y9)
represented the College in a series of practical challenges
and quizzes relating to GCSE Chemistry. Based in the
undergraduate teaching laboratory that has over 100
practical workstations, the students competed against
students form 10 other schools across the South West.
The students really enjoyed the day, both in terms of the
activity and the whole University experience – including
a brief walking tour of some of the facilities, including
having a thorough exploration of a 300-seat lecture theatre
where Michael wrote Pythagoras’s equation on the biggest
whiteboard he had ever seen!
Despite not successfully defending the title that the College won last year, the students were an absolute credit and, for me,
it was a pleasure to take them.
Stuart Ruffle Team Leader of Science
As the clouds descended on the year
12 geography class waiting in the
coach park, a grim expression swept
over the students' faces. Would it be a
typical geography trip: cold, wet and
pathetically miserable?
Please don’t be
another Dawlish Warren
was the general
outlook of the students. Sun-drenched
Ibiza or Majorca was the preferred
destination; Ms Harris refused; Slapton
Sands would have to do. The yearly trip
for AS Geography would involve a coastal
walk stretching from Start Point right
across to Slapton Sands beach on the
first day, studying the effects of coastal
erosion. The remaining two days would
comprise of research tasks around both
Plymouth and Torquay, whilst examining
the impacts of rebranding on the area (it was almost as interesting as it sounds).
The group would stay in the Slapton
Field Research Centre for the duration of
the trip; a games room as well as living
room were present for the students in
the evenings to relax and enjoy at their
will. The initial walk along the coastal
path was beautifully sunny (all right, it
was mildly sunny) as the class advanced
past Beesands and Hallsands with our
ludicrously fast Field Centre guide
leading the way.
The following day, a cooked breakfast
was provided each morning before
the students were driven off to their
location, where they would gather
data for their AS exam – which would
inevitablyoccur in the summermonths.
Plymouth would be the first location to
be visited, and then Torquay the next
day for data to be gained for the exam.
Once back at the Field Centre, supper
awaited the students, which turned out
to be much needed considering the
group was stuck in traffic on the A38
for 3 hours which, in truth, got them
out of work that evening which was
extremely well received by the class.
However, the trip was essential to the
AS students’ work for the year, proving
to be immensely fun and entertaining,
remarkably more so than your average
Geography trip!
Oliver Clark Year 12
