TWENTY-three budding scientists from a secondary school in St Albans were recently recognised for projects ranging from examining the amount of vitamin C in orange juice, to seeing which cleaner is best at killing bacteria.

Beaumont School’s science department handed out CREST awards from the British Science Association to the talented youngsters from Years 8-11.

The pupils had attended a series of masterclasses after school to undertake the projects.

The awards, designed to encourage students in the field of science and introduce them to the work of real scientists, are a project-based scheme for science, technology, engineering and maths.

Pupils could investigate or design and make, research a subject, or design a science communication project.

Headteacher Liz Hitch said: “We are delighted at the enthusiasm shown by our students and impressed by the skill and resourcefulness that they brought to their projects. They thoroughly deserve their awards and we look forward to helping many of them progress towards science at A-level and beyond.”