SCIENTISTS of the future have been pitting their wits against each other in the 2009 British Biology Olympiad.

Seven sixth form girls from Oxford High School in Belbroughton Road, Oxford, competed in the national competition, taking home four of the 58 gold medals available along with three bronze medals.

Their results meant Oxford High was the highest performing school in the contest and received the Top School award.

Head of biology Dr Paul Weeks said: “It is a very strong year and we decided the best way of allocating places, because lots of girls wanted to take part, was to select the seven top girls from their AS-Level results.

“I was absolutely delighted and thrilled to bits with their results. Normally we would expect may be half the girls to pick up a medal, but for all of them to get medals was just outstanding.”

Gold medallists Lizzie Jefferys, Clare Thakker and Hannah Al-Yousuf all made it into the top 40, with Shirley Yick receiving the other gold medal and Roberta Iley, Lucy Li and Frances Ng all achieving bronze medals.

All pupils had to take a challenging written paper, and because they performed so well, Lizzie, Clare and Hannah qualified for the second round and had to complete another exam testing biological knowledge.

Lizzie, who is 17 and lives in Summertown, made it into the top 12 and will next month compete in the final for a chance of representing the UK at the International Biology Olympiad in Japan in the summer.

Dr Weeks said: “We haven’t had anyone in the final since I’ve been here.

“It’s a chance to excel and be tested beyond the syllabus.

“For the bright students, we try and take them further to keep them interested.

“Lizzie is one of the most talented student biologists I have ever met.”

For the finals, which take place on April 6- 8, Lizzie will complete practical work as well as a written paper.

To prepare, she is poring over advanced text books and dissecting invertebrates three or four times a week.

She said: “I felt really happy when I got through to the final and I’m working really hard.

“I am nervous but excited about it.

“I’m not too confident about my chances of winning, but if I did win it would be one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me.”

Lizzie hopes to study biochemistry at New College, Oxford, next year and wants to work in research.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk