Priory pupils break the code in national competition

Pupils at Penwortham Priory Academy have proved to be top code-breakers after coming joint first in a national competition.

Every year, the University of Southampton runs a cipher competition, this year called the Kompromat Files.

Students in more than 100 schools entered the competition and started the challenge in September solving two encrypted texts a week for 10 weeks.

Priory Year 11s Danyal, Jacob, Christian, with help from Maths Teacher Mr Henshaw, celebrated 10 out of 10 in part A and nine out of 10 in part B to finish joint first.

“The one we couldn’t do was virtually unsolvable,” said Danyal, who hopes to study Maths at A-Level with Jacob and Christian.

“We have all enjoyed doing it, it has challenged us every week and we have been determined to crack as many as we can.

“There have been disagreements between us but we are proud to have done as well as we have.”

Mr Henshaw said: “Part of my maths degree was in cryptology and some of the problems these students were solving were up to degree standard.

“Students could enter up to 18 so our students were younger entrants and to have done so well is outstanding for Priory.