There is much more to science education than the requirements demanded by the examination curriculum. This article illustrates one example of an in-depth investigation, kick started with a Royal Society Partnership Grant, into essential oils as antimicrobial agents. The project and subsequent extensions were selected to be presented at various science events and for several awards. Building on this success, the author has obtained a Wellcome Trust grant to set up a regional hub in North Yorkshire to encourage schools carrying out biomedical science research projects, with ten schools participating in its first year.