AstroSoc’s Stellar Success in the Junior Astro Challenge

Pate’s student-led AstroSoc is celebrating an out-of-this-world accomplishment following their recent participation in the British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (BAAO)’s Junior Astro Challenge. Following their attempt in 2025, how far did they go this year?

Twenty-one students from Years 7-11 took part in this year’s challenge, with every participant receiving accredited certificates.  Most notably, nine students obtained a Gold award – tripling the performance from last year.

This competition is created to challenge and inspire students to further their knowledge in astronomy and astrophysics beyond the standard curriculum, covering a wide variety of detailed topics. AstroSoc held four preparation sessions, led by a team of eight student-presenters to help prepare for the rigours of the competition.

Well done to all students who took part, with a special mention to Gold award winners Aaran, Aishani, Alex, Anika, Arnav, Parth, Shrihan, Taran and Theodore. and to the AstroSoc team for their brilliant effort.

Pate’s Physics Teacher and AstroSoc-supervisor, Mr Michael Brownlie comments:
“The JAC is a competition designed primarily to inspire curiosity in its participants and with AstroSoc it has certainly succeeded. As a teacher, it has been wonderful to see so many students taking such a genuine interest in the night sky and space. The preparatory sessions were of exceptionally high quality and often focused on advanced ideas well beyond the school curriculum. This is made all the more impressive by the fact that these sessions were entirely designed and delivered by students in their free time. While the results of the challenge were indeed phenomenal, I have been most pleased with the number of students who have continued to turn up to AstroSoc meetings after the competition had finished, showcasing a genuine love of learning.” 

AstroSoc’s founder and lead, Parth (Year 11) says,
“At AstroSoc, every member is part of our team. Every student contributes to our sessions. Working together for a shared aim and a shared purpose progresses us as a society.  

Last term, preparing for the JAC thoroughly exemplifies the team spirit, where we learnt not only soft skills in presentation and delivery but also fundamentals such as the History of Astronomy, Planetary Science, Cosmology and more.  

The credit for achievement goes to the members who courageously took up this challenge, and most importantly prepared others as well as themselves. We are always grateful to our constellation of support, the Physics Department, for providing us a launchpad of opportunities.” 

 Year 7 Gold-award student Theodore says,
“I chose to attempt it because I wanted to achieve something and have fun. The preparation sessions at AstroSoc were very useful because they showed various subjects that I never knew.”

AstroSoc continues to be a thriving part of the school’s co-curricular life, running student-presented sessions every Monday Lunchtime, open to all Patesians in Years 7-11. AstroSoc has hosted annual events with subject-departments and the Headteacher; led Year 8 workshops; designed two school-board exhibitions; and coordinated a trip to the National Space Centre in 2023.