A team of Year 10 Reigate Grammar chemistry students is celebrating after beating 38 other local schools in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemistry Challenge.

It was the first time the school had entered a team for the RSC contest which tests students on all aspects of the subject.

The team - Samantha Cloake, Sam Bunn, Ben Saward and Jochem Birrell-Gray - were placed in third position and have now been invited to compete in a tournament at Kingston University next month.

Christopher Lawrence, Reigate Grammar School head of chemistry, said: “To come a very credible third place out of 41 regional schools is a great achievement, especially as it was our first go at entering this competition.

“This is particularly true given that the students did no special preparation for the challenge outside of their normal chemistry studies at school.”

He said: “The students certainly enjoyed the experience and the chance to apply their learning.

“We are now hungry to improve our position in the next competition and look forward to visiting Kingston University in the spring.”