Silver CREST Awards 2016

Nine students studying science at Cronton Sixth Form are celebrating after receiving prestigious Silver CREST Awards (Creativity in Science and Technology).
The Silver CREST Awards are highly respected within the scientific community and are designed to provide curriculum enhancement.

Daniel Swift, Kieran Dorcey, Joanne Taylor, Vanya Barzilova, Daniel Powell, Shahbaz Khan, Danielle Ellis, Ceris Breckell and Kiah Singleton each completed around 30 hours of practical work on a scientific research project of their choosing.
The talented students researched an area of microbiology that has relevance to modern life in the twenty first century, and gives an insight on the role of effective antiseptics in medicine and the importance of hygiene in prevention of the spread of infection.
Some of the projects chosen by the students included the effects of using mobile phones and the numbers of bacteria on the face and ear, and the effect of Manuka honey on bacterial growth. Another project concerned how many bacteria remain under the fingernails of health care workers after washing hands and the importance of keeping fingernails short to prevent bacteria being transmitted to patients.
The students presented their findings to the rest of the group at the college’s new science facilities.
Ben Barton, Head of The Centre of Excellence for Science and Maths at Cronton, commented, “We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work in the CREST awards. An outstanding level of commitment was demonstrated throughout the projects, as they were carried out in addition to their studies at college. The students all worked individually on these projects and learned the value of time organisation, careful preparation and record keeping.”