In October 2025, we travelled to London along with 5 other year 14 students to attend an awards ceremony hosted by the Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS). We were nominated for the Positive Impact Award after presenting our research earlier in the year at a conference in Manchester. We were delighted that IRIS recognised the research we carried out in Year 13 on blue-green algae.
The event was held at the Francis Crick Institute, which was an amazing opportunity to visit, as it is a world-leading centre for cutting-edge biomedical research. During the ceremony, we also had the chance to learn about a wide range of inspiring projects from other schools across the country and to gain valuable insight into different research methods and approaches.
Over the two days we spent in London, we were able to explore the city and take part in sightseeing activities. We visited the British Museum, saw Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, watched the Changing of the Guard, and enjoyed shopping in Covent Garden.
Overall, we are extremely grateful for this opportunity and proud of the award we received. It was a memorable experience that highlighted the impact of student-led research and allowed us to represent our school on a national stage.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs Gilpin and Mrs Madden for their support and for accompanying us on our trip to London. We are also very grateful to Mrs Gilpin and Mrs Watson for their guidance and assistance throughout the project.