Member Article

Ashington student strikes gold

An Ashington High School student has become one of just six youngsters from across the UK to strike gold in the British Physics Olympiad.

Sixteen year-old Hayden Haghkar won the gold award after sitting an A-level standard examination paper set by Oxford University. A further 16 students from Ashington High School also achieved commendations, bronze and silver awards for their work in the national competition.

The British Physics Olympiad aims to encourage the study of physics and recognises excellence in young physicists through annual competitions that test understanding and problem solving skills. The competitions are organised and judged by a committee comprising senior academics from Oxford and Cambridge Universities and the Institute of Physics.

Laura Wright, physics teacher said: “The British Physics Olympiad is a gruelling test of ability and understanding so I couldn’t be any more proud to see so many of our students performing so wonderfully well. Hayden’s achievement is quite stunning and if he continues on this path there is no reason why he shouldn’t look forward to a long and successful career as a pioneering physicist.”

The Ashington High School team studied for the British Physics Olympiad in their own time and in parallel with their GCSE coursework and revision.

Commenting on his gold award, Hayden said: “I was so excited when I found out I had won a gold award! I felt so proud as I never thought I would get that. If it wasn’t for my physics teacher Miss Wright I wouldn’t have excelled as much as I have, she really helped me develop a love of physics.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Round Table Solutions Ltd .