 We have also seen pupils challenged by the Young Engineers for Britain Competition and this year again saw Merchiston pupils entering the Scottish Regional Final of The Young Engineers for Britain Competition. We have had age group category winners in this Final for the last six consecutive years, and overall winners for the last four years. This year was no exception. Cameron Shaw was the overall winner and will proceed to the Final in London, as will Ruaridh Macfarlane, who was invited to re-develop his design beforehand. Moreover, Grant Hardie, Shea Grimsdale, Campbell Paton gained awards in the U16 age group, as did Rickie Cheung and Ruaridh Macfarlane in the U18 category. Furthermore, Fifth Formers Hamilton McMillan, Campbell Paton and Scott Warden have won Arkwright Scholarships - these are external scholarships which are awarded to candidates who have successfully passed the Arkwright Aptitude Paper, demonstrating flair and originality in solving Engineering Design problems, and who have presented their GCSE work to a panel of interviewers. The selection process culminates in an interview for shortlisted candidates at one of six universities. The Scholarship supports young people during their A Level/Scottish Highers years by awarding £250 a year to assist with the purchase of materials and books and it carries the status of 'Arkwright Scholar' into university. At the same time, the School's Design & Technology Department receives a similar grant over two years.
 Moreover, pupils are achieving so much success in external Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics Olympiads, such as Tom Chow and Horace Li, who were awarded Certificates of Distinction in the Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad 2008. Having performed particularly well in the Intermediate Maths Challenge, Tom and Horace were invited to participate in the UK Mathematics Olympiad. Of this select group, 50% are awarded a Certificate of Participation, the next 25% a Certificate of Merit, and the top 25% a Certificate of Distinction. So Tom and Horace achieved this highest accolade. Furthermore, Horace's performance at this level has placed him in the top 40 students in the UK, and he has therefore been invited to the National Mathematics Summer School in July, where the top 40 students take part in training, which leads on to the selection of the UK's Mathematics team for the next International Olympiad. We believe this achievement is a first for a Merchiston pupil. Anh Nguyen gained a Gold Award in the Chemistry Olympiad 2008; again, it was remarkable that he was selected as a 'Top 8 in Britain' Lower Sixth student to attend a course at Cambridge. I am delighted too that 34 Pringle pupils have had poems published in the annual Young Writers anthology, this year entitled Talkin' 'Bout My Generation. Moreover, Fourth Former Santiago Palacios's poem was selected for a special Young Writers anthology to mark its 18th anniversary.
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