Twelve of our Year 12 Chemists enjoyed an inspiring and visit to the University of Oxford’s Chemistry Teaching Labs, accompanied by Miss Cooney and Mr Barrett. The day offered a rare chance to experience practical chemistry using university‑grade equipment and to see how the skills they learn at A Level connect to real scientific research.

Ready to learn!

During the “Battle the Bugs” workshop, students carried out a full synthetic chemistry practical, making two antibiotic compounds from scratch. They then analysed their products using IR spectroscopy — a technique they study as part of the A Level course but wouldn't get to use first‑hand. Being able to match peaks to functional groups and interpret spectra from their own samples gave them a real sense of how university chemists work.

 Carrying out their own practicals!

After lunch in the beautiful surroundings of Trinity College, students headed to the History of Science Museum to explore the story of penicillin and discover how academic researchers and industry scientists have worked together to develop life‑changing medicines. This helped students see how the concepts they study — from organic mechanisms to drug design — fit into a much bigger scientific picture.

Listening intently...

To end the day, the group met PhD researchers working on antibiotic resistance. They shared their research journeys, explained current challenges in medicinal chemistry, and ran hands‑on activities to help students engage with the science behind their work. Hearing directly from researchers was a real highlight and left students thinking more deeply about future study and career opportunities in chemistry and beyond.

It was an exceptional day that strengthened students’ understanding of the A Level curriculum while opening their eyes to the excitement and importance of scientific research.