Monmouth march into final of national science competition

January 11, 2018

The triumphant Monmouth team.

Talented pupils from Monmouth School Boys’ Prep have marched into the final of the National Inter-school Science Quiz Championship for the second year in a row.

Srinivas will be leading the Monmouth team in the showpiece at Oxford University’s Museum of National History later this month, aiming to eclipse last year’s disappointment.

Srinivas was part of the Monmouth team which fell just 35 points shy of the eventual champions, Westminster Under School, in the final 12 months ago.

Ojas, Cameron and Hugh joined Srinivas in playing a leading role in today’s Wales and South West Regional Final at Monmouth School for Boys’ Hitchcock Pavilion.

The science quiz competition is open to Years 5 and 6 in primary and preparatory schools across the UK and Monmouth had won the South-West heat at Badminton last term.

The Monmouth boys took control of the regional final from the early stages and opened up a commanding lead, eventually scoring an outstanding tally of 2,105 points.

Monmouth School Boys’ Prep Headteacher, Mr Neil Shaw, and Dr Sion Wall, the Science and Technology teacher and Co-ordinator, who also runs the quiz team, were proud of the boys’ efforts.

Redmaids High Junior School, from Bristol, clawed their way back into contention in the closing stages to take the runners-up spot with 1,965 points.

Lawn Primary School, who had travelled from Swindon, totalled 1,765 points to finish in third position.

Taunton’s Queen’s College Junior School, Bristol’s Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, The Cathedral School in Llandaff, Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Castellau from Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Millfield Preparatory School also competed in regional final.

Proud Monmouth captain Srinivas said: “It feels really exciting to have reached the final and hopefully we will go one better than last year.

“This is a very proud moment for me and the other boys in the team.

“Some of the questions were very difficult and we have a lot of hard work to put in before the national final takes place in Oxford.”

Mr Shaw said: “Everyone in the Monmouth team did incredibly well and all the pupils who competed in the regional final should be very proud of their achievements.

“Our boys have been studying and working hard with Dr Wall and at home and they acquitted themselves incredibly well against strong opposition.”

Result: 1 Monmouth School Boys’ Prep 2,105 points, 2 Redmaids 1,965, 3 Lawn Primary School 1,765 pts, 4 Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital 1,750, 5 The Cathedral School 1,715, 6 Casteallau 1,655, 7 Queen’s College 1,595, 8 Millfield 1,235.