So…is it true that exams today are easier than they used to be? The Royal Society of Chemistry set out to find the definitive answer with its Five Decade Challenge, and five JAGS pupils nobly gave up a free afternoon, when the rest of the school was on holiday, to sit the eight questions from each decade from the 1960s onwards.

Universities and employers are particularly interested in the development of problem solving skills. Some questions involved knowledge and opinions about current affairs and issues such as nuclear power; many of the questions were calculations of a type mainly covered in Year 11 so we were particularly pleased that the six Year 10 girls did so well, with Freddie Onslow being awarded a Merit for her answers.

Congratulations go to Freddie Onslow, Abigail Karas,  Jennifer Lannigan, Eleanor Makower and Holly Plumeridge.

And, in case you are wondering, the Royal Society has yet to announce its findings.