Sixth form spot on with maths challenge

Teen maths wizards got their equations spot on in a team contest against other sixth-formers.

Four Emrys sixth formers unpicked the numbers to land top marks in the most difficult round of the Senior Team Maths Challenge.

Jointly organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust and the Further Maths Support Programme, the contest in Colwyn Bay saw teams from schools and colleges across North Wales take on each other.

Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan maths teacher Andrew Thomas said he was delighted with the performance of his students, who are all studying further maths and plan careers in science. 

He said: “I thought our students, Jack Staveley, Simon Rogers, Jack Huang and Rowan Boardmen worked fantastically well. To be the highest scoring team for the cross-number round was a real feather in the caps of these very talented young mathematicians.

“All four students are studying maths and further maths at A-level here at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan and all have plans to study either mathematics or physics at university. They are a credit to themselves and the school.

“The Senior Team Maths Challenge tests mathematical, communication and team-working skills, and is split into three rounds.  Our students really excelled at the cross-number round, which is similar to a crossword but with numerical answers. Teams work in pairs with one pair looking after the across clues and the other the down clues.

“The pairs work independently to complete the grid using logic and deduction. It’s particularly difficult and I was delighted our students came out with top marks for this round.”

Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan head teacher  Lee Cummins said: “This is an excellent result for these learners, and represents the progress we have made in  developing our maths and science teaching.”

Simon Rogers, who hopes to study astrophysics at university, said: “It was good fun but very challenging. To score top marks in the cross-number round was amazing. It was more difficult as we couldn’t talk to each other.

“It was a brilliant day though and shows we get great tuition when it comes to maths as a subject here at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan.”

Jack Huang, who hopes to study computer science at university, added: “It was really enjoyable and really had us thinking and working hard.

“It’s good to challenge yourself and competing against other schools and colleges was a real challenge.”

Rowan Boardman, who is looking to study physics when he goes to university, said: “The challenge was tough and hard work and there was no time to relax. It was good working as a team but the pressure was on throughout.

“Scoring top marks and beating the other schools and colleges in the cross-number challenge was a real highlight.”