The Festival, in partnership with the Salters’ Institute and the Royal Society of Chemistry for 11 to 13 year-olds, was hosted by the University on Tuesday (1 April).

Organiser Dr Bushra Ahmed, Principal Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Bedfordshire's Department of Life Sciences, was celebrating her tenth year leading the Salters' Festival Day at Bedfordshire.

She said: “The University has been hosting this event for the past 12 years and as ever the children are always enthusiastic and excited. It is a good experience for the children as they get to work by themselves in the labs.

“Teachers are there to guide them but ultimately, it’s all their own work. The day also promotes all the sciences, especially chemistry. There are lots of activities going on and children can get hands on experience.”

Twelve schools took part which included seven from Bedfordshire – Ashcroft High School, Luton, Bedford Preparatory School, Challney High School for Boys and Community College and Challney High School for Girls in Luton, Mark Rutherford School from Bedford, Newnham Middle School, Bedford, and, Stopsley Highly School and Community College from Luton.

Schools from Hertfordshire were Bishop's Hatfield Girls’ School from Hatfield, Lochinver House School from Potters Bar, St Francis College from Letchworth Garden City and The Thomas Alleyne Academy from Stevenage.

The University also welcomed students from Milton Keynes Home Educators.

 From left: Dr Sebastien Farnaud, Professor Prasad S. Sreenivasaprasad, Dr Bushra Ahmed, Dr Peter Sutton, Fleur Layzell (Salters' representative) and Sue Thompson

Concluding a full day of talks and practical exercises at the University’s state-of-the-art science labs at the Luton campus, first, second and third prizes were presented by the University’s Acting Head of Science, Professor Prasad S. Sreenivasaprasad, for two challenges which involved all the students during the day.

The Salters’ Challenge in the morning saw Lochinver High School triumph, closely followed by St Francis College in second and Mark Rutherford School third. And in the afternoon, Bedford Preparatory School won The University Challenge, with Stopsley Highly School and Community College in second and Bishop's Hatfield Girls’ School in third place.

Dr Ahmed added: “I’d like to thank all the schools who participated, with special thanks to Dr Peter Sutton, Head of Science at Redborne Upper School and Community College in Ampthill, Beds, who was also celebrating his tenth Salters’ Festival at Bedfordshire as our guest speaker. I’d also like to thank Sue Thompson from the Royal Society of Chemistry for her presentation on the day to the schools’ teaching staff.”

Zoe Elliott, Subject Leader for Key Stage 3 Science at Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School added her “thanks” to the University for hosting the Salters’ Festival saying that her students enjoyed a “fabulous day”.

The Salters’ Festival at Bedfordshire is one of a series of 47 festivals which are taking place at universities throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland between March and June 2014.