Super-smart scientists came second in a national quiz competition held at Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History.

The Grange Monmouth Preparatory School’s four-strong team competed in the final round of Quiz Club’s Science Inter-School Quiz Championships on March 3.

Bill, Srinivas, Sam and Head Boy, Oliver, answered questions on chemistry, zoology and physics, narrowly missing out on being crowned the UK’s champions.

Dr Sion Wall, science and technology teacher at The Grange, said: “After bubbling around joint third and fourth for the first round, The Grange team took a decisive lead on question 21 at the start of round two.

“In a thrilling end to the quiz they maintained this lead all the way through the next two rounds, all the way to the final question where last year’s winners Westminster just managed to pip them at the final hurdle with a question on the speed at which the Earth rotates.

“This left The Grange with 2215 – agonisingly close to Westminster’s 2250.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys, they did incredibly well.”

Bill and Srinivas, who are in Prep IV, are already looking forward to entering again with next year’s quiz team.