Mathematicians enjoy UKMT challenge finals in London

Earlier this week, two very eager Year 8 mathematicians travelled up to London, alongside two Year 9s from King's Bruton to compete in the National Final of the UKMT Team Maths Challenge...  It was scorching hot day but this did not discourage these four dedicated mathematicians as they battled through five gruelling maths competitions lasting the whole day.

The Hazlegrove and King's Bruton boys competed against 90 different teams from throughout the United Kingdom – each school present had earned their place in the final by either coming 1st or 2nd in the own respective regional finals so they really were the best of the best. The first round was a poster competition requiring both their mathematical skills and their creative instincts as they worked together to craft a fabulous A1 poster explaining polyominoes and answering a few tough related questions. The next rounds included the Group Circus Round,  the crazy Shuttle Challenge, a beastly Crossnumbers puzzle and the programme then ended with a frantic Maths Relay Race which saw all 360 children running around the hall collecting and solving a series of progressively more difficult maths puzzles.

All-in-all it was a fantastic programme and our two Year 8 mathematical ambassadors (Isaac B and Tom P) did us extremely proud working tirelessly, despite the heat, right through to the end.

Mr Shaw

Click here for the photo album in Flickr