A record of over150 students from a town college have sat a national computing challenge.

A total of 169 students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College in Eastleigh sat the Bebras Computing Challenge this year, a record number for the college.

The challenge tasks sixth form students aged 16-18 with a computer science based paper, which they sit in exam conditions to broaden their knowledge of the popular subject.

Students on the Computer Science A Level course sat the Challenge, with 16 earning a Gold Award that places them amongst the top 10% of students in the College and earns them an invite into the Oxford University Computing Challenge.

Additionally, 29 students received Distinctions, placing them in the top 25%, and 41 students received a Merit, placing them in the top 50%.

In total, over 10,000 students from across the country sat the Challenge with Barton Peveril performing above the national average, with a score of 99 compared to the national average of 94.

Subject Leader for Computer Science, Isabel Culmer, commented on the success: "The Bebras Challenge really encourages the students’ thinking skills. We are very proud of having so many students achieve Gold awards this year and go through to the invite-only Oxford University Computing Challenge."