In October some of QE’s keenest mathematicians entered the national annual UK Mathematics Trust Senior Maths Challenge. The challenge is to solve 25 maths problems in 90 minutes. They achieved excellent results with many of those entering receiving a certificate. Altogether, QE students were awarded nine gold, twenty-three silver and twenty-six bronze certificates. Cara-Jane Neild, Sam Beukenholdt, Rushil Partha, Ben Fulton (all Year 1) and Liam O’Connor, Catherine Gu, Shrish Nair, Luke Owen, Sam Jackson (all Year 2) were those awarded gold, with Sam Jackson and Cara-Jane Neild the highest scorers in the second and first years respectively. About 10% of students taking part in this national competition achieve gold and are invited to take part in the follow-on rounds in November where they face even tougher challenges of mathematical skills and understanding. Ben Fulton said, “doing the maths challenge was a very interesting experience and, despite doing it now for seven years, I find it still challenges your mathematical skills”.

Sam Jackson’s high score qualified him to take part in Round 1 of the British Mathematical Olympiad which consists of a three and half hour exam paper of very demanding maths problems. Sam added, “I always enjoy the challenge of tackling harder maths questions”. The other gold award students qualified for the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo competition in which five of them achieved a certificate of merit putting them in the top 25% of those taking part.

Helen Carvill, Course Leader for A Level Mathematics, said “we are very impressed by the number of excellent mathematicians here at QE, many of whom will go on to use their mathematical and problem-solving skills at a higher level in a wide range of careers.”

Click on the link below  to access papers if you want to see what it's all about.

Two popular visits we have offered in previous years include the Leeds Uni Maths Day and Maths Inspiration