He will now attend an award ceremony hosted by the Royal Society of Biology on Friday, 7 July in London which will include a talk by Tim Birkhead, author and animal behaviour and the history of science professor at the University of Sheffield.

Rendcomb’s Head of Key Stage 4, Natalie Johnston, said: “Oscar's achievement is even more remarkable when you consider this year's grade boundary for a Gold award was 77 points and he scored 81.”

All Triple Science Award students in Year 10 took part in the Biology Challenge with 26 pupils gaining either Gold, Silver, Bronze, Highly Commended or Commended certificates.

About the Biology Challenge

Biology Challenge (Junior Biology Olympiad) is a competition open to 13-15 year olds in the UK. The Challenge is on online competition which takes place in schools and consists of two 25 minute papers. Questions are set on the topics covered in most general biology courses for pupils of this age but the Biology Challenge will also reward those students whose knowledge of the subject has been increased by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking notice of the news media for items of biological interest, students who are generally aware of our natural flora and fauna.

About Biology at Rendcomb College

Biology includes more than just demonstrations, experiments and dissections, although there are plenty of these. Cross-curricular influences play a role in learning; whether it be creating a piece of extended writing describing the journey through the digestive system from the perspective of a piece of food, The Water Cycle Rap, Stem Cell Poetry, GM Crop Debating or Hormonal Control of the Menstrual Cycle as a play. Biology is an engaging and interactive subject which uses a full of a range of activities to bring the concepts to life. The department’s co-curricular activities include dissection club for Key Stage 4 and Eco Club for Key Stage 3 pupils.

There is also a Bioethics Debating Society, Biological Drawing Club and Biology Blockbusters where students create videos explaining core A Level practicals. Follow the department’s activities via their twitter account: @rendcombbiology.