Photo - Elizabeth, Erin and Mahdiyah

Mr Jeffryes (Maths Teacher)

On Wednesday and Thursday 27th and 28th April, almost 50 Year 8 and 110 Year 7 students participated in the UKMT Junior 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: When my pot of paint is half full, it weighs 5.8 kg. When my pot of paint is one quarter full, it weighs 3.1 kg. What is the weight of the full pot? A 8.9 kg B 11.2 kg C 11.6 kg D 12 kg E 12.4 kg.  Any ideas?

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 50% 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 21 Year 8 and 21 Year 7 with Bronze, 14 Year 8 and 10 Year 7 Silver and 2 Year 8 and 2 Year 7 Gold, which is quite an impressive haul!

A very well done to many of our students, a particular mention goes to Year 7 students, Evie Isherwood and Elizabeth Moore (Year 7), who both achieved Gold. Elizabeth did well enough to go through to the next round, the Junior Kangaroo. Many congratulations to Year 8 students, Erin Ferris and Mahdiyah Meghji also received a Gold. Mahdiyah has got through to the Junior Olympiad with an outstanding score of 123 out of 135 - I think it may well be a BGS highest ever score! 

The follow-up rounds take place on Tuesday 14th June so good luck to Elizabeth and Mahdiyah!