Earlier in the year I spoke to all the Year 12 physics students about entering a national physics competition explaining what 'lights up their love of physics'. Charlotte Hatton (12Wilson) entered the competition and was shortlisted as one of the national finalists.
I took Charlotte, along with two other students, to Oxford University for a residential trip during the Easter holidays for the final and Charlotte was announced as the overall winner, earning herself an all-expenses paid trip to CERN in Switzerland. The final included a question time style Q&A with Charlotte being grilled by three Oxford Physics professors and she did brilliantly. She was knowledgeable, calm and confident and she did herself, and the school, proud.
You can find out more about the competition and watch Charlotte’s winning entry at https://physicspartners.com/competition-shortlist/
During the event Charlotte also got to meet the ‘famous’ Physics YouTuber Lewis Matheson. Charlotte said, “Although it would be cooler to say I was drawn to the competition by the prospect of a free holiday, the truth is I really love reading into physics and engineering concepts and I immediately was drawn to researching clocks. I was particularly interested in John Harrison, a carpenter who changed time keeping forever. We had a wonderful time staying at Merton College in Oxford University, astounded they have lasagne for LUNCH in the formal hall! The professors were impressed by my presentation and I am delighted to be visiting CERN in Switzerland with my classmates as part of winning first prize. In addition, the physics department will receive £1000 for equipment!"
Mr Ross Robinson, Teacher of Physics