Following on from our recent successes at the UK Maths Trust (UKMT) Intermediate Maths Challenge, where we took home some 76 certificates, we are delighted that several of our students qualified for further stages of this brilliant Maths competition. 

The Cayley Maths Olympiad 

Ellie from Year 9 was selected to compete in the Cayley Maths Olympiad and she was delighted to receive a ‘certificate of Merit’ - not bad for a student in the youngest year group of the competition, an invitation-only event based on her initial UKMT scores. Well done Ellie! 

UKMT Team Maths Challenge regional finals 

In early May, four Senior School students represented the school at the UKMT team challenge, held at St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, a competition which gives students the opportunity to tackle a variety of engaging mathematical activities while developing teamwork and communication skills. Given that this was the first group challenge since Covid, it was ao exciting to be competing with other schools and be part of the amazing atmosphere again.  

Our team comprised Eleanor (Year 9), Lana and Caitlin (Year 8) and Emma (Year 7), competing against 17 teams from across London and the South-East of England. They were delighted to place in the Top 10 of the group!  

The competition consisted of 4 x 40-minute rounds:  

• Round 1 – the group round: In this round, students work together to solve 10 questions of varying type and difficulty 

• Round 2 – the cross number: Like a crossword but with numbers. Teams work in pairs; one pair has the across clues and one pair has the down clues, and complete the grid using logic and deduction 

• Round 3 – the shuttle round: Teams compete against the clock to answer a series of 4 questions where question 1 can be solved independently of the others, but each subsequent question requires the correct answer to the previous question. One mistake in any question will affect the answer to the next! 

• Round 4 - the relay round!: Involving a lot of movement as well as mathematics, teams split into pairs and race against the clock to answer as many questions as possible 

Lana from Year 8 reviews the competition experience: 

“The atmosphere at the competition was busy, competitive and friendly at the same time. There were four exercises, but the crossword was my favourite as we had to communicate through our teacher to the other pair and I found it really unique and interactive. I also really enjoyed the relay as it was the most exciting because everyone was running around. Overall, I had a lot of fun, figured out some challenging questions and really enjoyed the time with my friends and other schools.” 

Junior Kangaroo   

We are also incredibly proud of Katherine, Caitlin and Lana from Year 8 who performed extremely well in their UKMT scores and will go on to the next stage of the competition, the Junior Kangaroo, which will take place on 11 June. 

Well done to all our girls competing in the competition.