The RSC announces the winners and runners-up of the 2025 national final
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is pleased to announce Winchester College as winners of the 2025 Top of the Bench competition, after the national final at Cardiff University on Saturday 22 March.
28 teams from schools across the UK and Belgium competed in Wales for the chance to become Top of the Bench champions. The final’s theme was air, and pairs from each team of four sat a 40-minute written exam on the topic to test their chemical knowledge. Each team also did a one-and-a-half-hour practical in the lab. Meanwhile accompanying teachers found out about RSC Education resources and ideas from education coordinator, Ross Christodoulou.
What prizes did the students win?
After the exam and practical, RSC staff and Cardiff University students tallied up the scores. At the prize-giving ceremony, Ross announced the winners from sixth to first in time-honoured fashion, distributing Amazon vouchers to all teams. In addition, runners-up Altrincham Grammar School for Girls won a trophy, while the winning team also took home the champion’s trophy, plus £500 for their school’s chemistry department, and, of course, bragging rights.
The Jacqui Clee Award went to Bailey Baxter and Olivia Dewhurst of Armfield Academy. The RSC has historically awarded this prize for the most outstanding individual contribution. However, for the first time ever it went to two students. Bailey and Olivia showed exceptional teamwork, staying organised and working in a calm manner to contribute to their team.
Cat Miedziak, a technician in Cardiff University’s school of chemistry said, ‘It was lovely to see so many keen students enjoying being in the labs – the atmosphere was lively and fun, though still competitive!’
The final Top of the Bench national final
Winchester College will be the champions for the foreseeable future as this year’s national final was sadly the last. Commenting on the culmination of more than 20 years of the Top of the Bench national final, RSC education manager Amanda Bailey said: ‘We are very grateful to our wonderful hosts over the years, the enthusiastic teachers who have made it possible for their students to attend, and finally to our dedicated, local section volunteers who have worked so hard to run the regional heats.’
Congratulations to all who took part and thank you to everyone who supported 2025’s national final at Cardiff University.
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