It All Adds Up: Priory Pupils Smash National Maths Challenge 

Year 7 Zach was the star of the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge at Priory.

Run by the UK Maths Trust, it’s a national competition for Years 7 and 8 where there are multiple choice answers and it’s completed in school. Pupils use their best problem-solving, fluency and reasoning skills to tackle some really difficult questions

Maths teacher Mr Hunter has run this challenge for a number of years and this year got more pupils involved – with 99 sitting the first round.

Year 7 Zach achieved 102 points and received a Gold Certificate and he was Best in School.

Zach said: “I was surprised as I struggled to concentrate and didn’t think I had done as well as I had. I do like Maths but my favourite subjects are Art and Music.”

Adam, also in Year 7, was just a point behind and also achieved a Gold Certificate. He said: “It’s the first time I have done anything like this and it was fine. It got harder as we went along but I was happy with my score.”

Both pupils went through to the next stage which took place on Tuesday – the Junior Kangaroo.

Year 8 Kaif received a Silver Certificate, he was Best in Year 8, and said: “I am pretty happy with that.”

Year 7 Oliver H also received a Silver Certificate. “It was really hard so it was a big achievement to get a Silver Certificate.”

Mr Hunter said: “They have all done brilliantly, especially the Year 7s who got the highest scores. We trialled a bigger intake this year and 99 pupils were involved which was a success.

“They smashed it and all have done really well. To get a Gold, Silver or Bronze certificate is a huge achievement as it is a hard challenge.”