THE headteacher of Pershore High School has been killed in his office - but, fortunately, he is still breathing.

Twelve pupils were asked to solve the crime using cutting-edge DNA fingerprint technology and find the murderer.

The scenario, played out last Thirusday, was that the head, Clive Corbett, had been murdered in his office at the school in Station Road.

With no leads and scant information, the all-girl team from year 10 used the latest gel electrophoresis techniques to isolate their prime suspect. Gel electrophoresis is used in forensics, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology and biochemistry. The results can be analysed using gel and UV light. The image is recorded with a computer-operated camera and the intensity of the band or spot of interest is measured and compared against standard markers loaded on the same gel.

The girls used the technique to discover who was responsible for the crime from their list of suspects - a teacher, a caretaker, a member of the catering staff, a pupil or an outsider with a grudge.

The murder mystery was possible because of more than £600 sponsorship from QinetiQ of Malvern, one of the world's leading defence technology and security companies. The firm attempts to answer the challenges faced by governments to detect, identify and respond to both defence and home security threats.

Biology teacher Sarah Cox said: "We're targeting girls to get more of them into science. The girls used genetic finger-printing to solve a crime, finding DNA samples to find the murderer."

The students involved aim to present their findings, and their research, at Cheltenham Festival of Science in June.