Top Year 7 & 8 Pupils Take On National Challenge

Year 8 Daniel M was ‘Best in School’ at the recent Junior Mathematical Challenge (UKMT) as he collected a Gold Award. 

Around 60 Priory pupils in Years 7 and 8 took part in the hour-long, multiple-choice national challenge. 

The problems are designed to make pupils think, encouraging mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems. 

Maths teacher Mr Hunter said: 
“To recognise the highest performers in the Challenge, the top-scoring 50 per cent of participants across the country are awarded with Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. 

“Daniel was our ‘Best in School’ with a staggering 101 points from the 25 questions while Oliver S was our ‘Best in Year 7’ and these also received a badge on their certificates to denote this. 

“We have six pupils who collected a Silver Certificate – Evie C, Lucy J, Niamh P, Jayden H, Oliver L along with Oliver S. 

“Many received the Bronze Award and pupils not among the high scorers received a Certificate of Participation. 
“There was some outstanding problem solving by our Priory pupils. It’s great to have these maths competitions back in school, especially in Key Stage 3.” 

Daniel said: “I wasn’t expecting a Gold Award. I can do maths quite well and I enjoyed the challenge.”  Evie said: “It was a fairly difficult Challenge with a lot more logic than expected.” Lucy said: “As it was multiple choice, a lot of it was a process of elimination.”  Best in Year 7 Oliver S said: “I am proud to be ‘Best in Year 7’ and I enjoyed having a go.” 

Daniel went through to the next round, the ‘Junior Kangaroo,’ which he sat on Tuesday afternoon. We will receive his results over the coming weeks - good luck Daniel!