Year 13 pupils had the opportunity to learn about the polymerase chain reaction, otherwise known as a PCR. Newcastle University joined us in school for students to experience lecture style learning and, challenging them to push their knowledge of the PCR to university level. This included the workings of a COVID-19 PCR test.

Students also worked through the process of gel-electrophoresis to separate DNA strands and had a hands-on experience with using micropipettes to prepare many of them for their STEM subject degree.