Last week, schools across Kings Heath, battled it out to be crowned the best young mathematical brains in the region as part of the National Young Mathematicians’ Awards. The competition, organised by tuition provider, Explore Learning and NRICH at the University of Cambridge, is aimed at school children across the UK with the aim of inspiring the next generation of mathematical minds!
For the first time ever, there were two elements of the competition – one aimed at primary schools and one at secondary schools.
8 took part with Colmore Primary School being victorious in the primary school category. And for the secondary school category, Tiffany Bouyer-Howell, Zosia Webster, Sarah Badenhurst and Kirsten Rhodes James from Kings Edward VI Camp Hill School for girls fought off tough competition from a fantastic challenge from maths whizzes at the other schools.
All schools had competed in a previous round to make it to the semi-final.
Charlotte Gater, Head of Curriculum at Explore Learning says: “This year’s competition was the biggest yet with over 1200 schools taking part so the regional winners have done incredibly well to be crowned their local champions! We saw an amazing array of maths skills on display where youngsters worked as a team, excelled in logical thinking and, most importantly, had fun while learning! A massive well done to all those who took part.”
The 10 teams who have made it to the Grand Final is at the University of Cambridge on 9th January will be revealed later in December. Here they will compete in one last competition to be named the National Young Mathematicians of the Year by University Challenge legend, TV presenter and author, Bobby Seagull who is Explore Learning’s National Young Mathematicians’ Awards Ambassador for 2018.
Bobby Seagull says: “I’m really pleased to be the ambassador for this year’s National Young Mathematicians’ Awards. Maths is in my blood and I’m thrilled to be able to inspire the next generation who might one day study at the University of Cambridge themselves – and perhaps appear on University Challenge! Maths is such an integral part of our everyday lives and having competitions like this really encourages children to see the importance of it and excitement that it can bring. I can’t wait to celebrate the children’s success with them.”
Not only will this year’s winners be crowed the best young mathematicians in the country, the two winning teams and eight runners up will receive prizes from Meccano, Letts Revision, i-Top and Sum Fun.
