Students excel in national maths challenge
Students at St Sampson’s High School excelled in the national UK Maths Trust Junior Mathematical Challenge.
There were 30 local students entered into the competition, which sees more than 300,000 of students enter from schools all around the UK each year. The school was awarded three gold certificates – which is achieved by only the top 8% of entrants – as well as eight silvers, and 12 bronze awards.
‘30 of our students across year 7 and 8 volunteered to enter the maths challenge,’ said maths teacher Julie Mason.
‘The majority of the students excelled.’
The challenge is an exam-style paper with mathematical reasoning questions and the students had an hour to complete it.
‘It was harder than I expected,’ said Rosie Gist, 11, who was awarded a gold, as well as being named the best in her year.
‘I couldn’t believe it when I found out I had a gold, I was sobbing.’
The students had prepared for the challenge in the schools maths club as well as lessons leading up to the assessment.
‘Maths club was a really great help,’ said Cara Langlois, 11, who had been awarded a bronze.
‘It was really stressful leading up to the challenge as there are so many people who compete in this challenge.’
Mrs Mason said that she was pleased with how many people had taken part in the maths club during the lead-up to the challenge.
‘It’s been great to see so many people going to the maths club,’ she said.
‘The challenge is voluntary and seeing so many of our Year 7 and 8 students taking part has been amazing.’
