The Junior Maths Challenge has recently taken place, with schools across the UK getting involved with the nationwide quiz which is created by the UK Mathematics Trust. The challenge, aimed at pupils in Year 8 and below, involves answering a number of questions in the time limit of one hour in exam conditions. The top 40% of students nationally receive a gold, silver or bronze certificate, and four pupils from Lower School in Shiplake undertook the challenge.
Year 8 pupils Anthony Adamson, Sam Horn and Jai Angell, and Year 7 pupil Matthew Grundy, all sat the challenge. All of the pupils did exceptionally well, scoring within the top 40% of all pupils who took part nationally. Sam and Jai received a bronze certificate, Matthew received a silver certificate, and Anthony achieved a gold. Over 250,000 pupils from across the UK attempted the challenge, with only approximately 6% of the very top results receiving a gold certificate. Following the challenge, 1,200 of the top-scoring pupils are invited back to take part in the Junior Olympiad, and Anthony will be competing for the second year in a row.
Mr Chris Lehane-Kendrick, who organised the challenge for the Shiplake pupils, commented: ‘these four pupils are very engaged with mathematics and see the fun in the subject. They have performed brilliantly in the Maths Challenge, which is by no means an easy undertaking, so a big congratulations to them!’