THEY have only just left school, but two Malvern Girls' College pupils are already making waves in the world of academia.

One has been named runner-up in one of the nation's most prestigious science writing competitions, while another has had an article printed in a classics magazine usually written by university lecturers.

Bryony Tomlinson won praise for her entry in the Daily Telegraph/BASF Science Writer Awards, whose judges included TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis and Mary Archer.

Bryony's essay, entitled Which came first, belief or the brain? discussed whether we are destined to believe in God as a result of the structure of our brains.

"This competition was a perfect opportunity for her to exercise her considerable natural curiosity and apply her ideas, and we are delighted for her and her success," said Carol Evans, Head of Biology at the college.

Bryony was deputy head girl at the college and achieved three A-levels at grade A this summer, in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

And Rachel Bryant Davies, another student at the Avenue Road school, has had an article published in the prestigious classics magazine Omnibus.

Contributions to Omnibus, a magazine aimed at undergraduates, are usually reserved for lecturers from university classics departments.

Her article on the links between Greek tragedy and the works of the Nigerian author Wole Soyinka developed from a talk she gave to the MGC English Society last year.

"We are delighted by Rachel's achievement and we are sure she will continue to develop her interest in comparative literature while she is at Cambridge," said Mrs Anne Dicks, Head of Classics at Malvern Girls' College.

She gained four grade As at A-level in English Literature, Greek, Latin and Spanish.

Rachel has also gained a Choral Award to sing in the choir of Selwyn College Cambridge, and to help build the choir at Newnham.

Both girls produced their essays while still studying at school.