Mr Jeffryes (Maths Teacher)

On Thursday 3rd February, almost 50 Year 9 and 50 Year 10 participated in the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge. The 25-question multiple-choice Mathematical Challenge aims to stimulate mathematical problem solving. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems and once again this year, it was online. The questions on the paper are designed to challenge students to think, not to guess. No calculators allowed!

An example of a question on this year’s paper is:

Workers digging a tunnel for an underground railway complete 5 metres of tunnel on a typical day. Working every day, how long will it take them to dig a tunnel of length 2 kilometres?

A three months   B six months       C just under a year       D just over a year   E nearly two years?

The students had a chance to get a bronze, silver or gold certificate (in the ratio 1:2:3) if they are in the top 40% of the UK from all those students taking the challenge and, if they did really well, they went on to the next round.

I am pleased to say that the results are now in. We have 11 Year 9 and 11 Year 10 with bronze; five Year 10 with silver; one Year 9 and three Year 10 gold which is impressive stuff!  Moreover, nine Year 9 students and three Year 10 students have done sufficiently well to get through to the next round (many of them are pictured). These Grey and Pink ‘Kangaroo’ follow on rounds take place next Thursday (17th March). Good luck to everyone involved!