Teenager clinchestop chemistry prize

Patrick Breen was presented with a 100 cheque and a certificate from the Royal Society for Chemistry to mark his achievement.

RCS representative Wilford Davies performed the ceremony. It was held at Portsmouth Grammar School which Patrick (19) left last summer to study natural sciences at Cambridge University.

The society awarded the special examination prize to Patrick, whose family home is in Bognor, for achieving the highest mark in the country in the advanced extension award for chemistry last summer. Advanced extension awards are world-class tests designed to stretch pupils' knowledge beyond the confines of A levels. They are a key feature of sixth form studies at the grammar school.

Patrick said: 'The prize has come as an unexpected bonus after the news of my A-levels. I am thoroughly enjoying Cambridge and already have to balance my time between the lab and the river, where I am learning to row.'

School head of chemistry Dr Mark Howson said: 'This is a magnificent achievement. We had no idea that prizes like this even existed and were delighted that Patrick was able to come back to school to receive it.'