QE are runners-up in national final of Team Maths Challenge
Having stormed through their regional round earlier this year, four QE pupils went on to take overall second place in the national final of the prestigious UK Maths Trust’s Team Maths Challenge.
The four, who were competing against 71 other teams, took second place overall in the final, held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London.
They performed strongly throughout the five rounds and were even shortlisted for a special, separate prize awarded for the poster round.
Head of Mathematics Jessica Steer said: “We are thrilled and immensely proud at the achievement of our four talented mathematicians who represented the School with such distinction on the national stage.
“Their calm and focused approach under pressure paid off brilliantly, securing our School second place in the country — an incredible achievement that reflects their hard work and passion for Mathematics.”
Representing QE were: Year 8’s Arya Hombal and Noble Laturina, along with Liam Chen and Advik Gupta, both of Year 9. They are pictured, top, with UK Maths Trust Vice Chair Steve Mulligan.
The national final followed 47 Team Maths Challenge events throughout the UK earlier this year.
It was the first post-pandemic national final: the last was held in 2019. Teams travelled from as far as the Scottish Highlands, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland. There were also seven guest teams from China.
The event consisted of five demanding rounds: the Group Circus, Shuttle, Crossnumber, Relay, and Poster rounds. The rounds are designed to test mathematical thinking, teamwork and resilience.
Overall first place went to The Perse School, Cambridge, while behind QE in third place were another independent school, Haberdashers’ Boys’.
Although QE has achieved success in the main Team Maths Challenge competition before, according to Head of Academic Administration, Wendy Fung, who was involved with Mathematics competitions for many years, the shortlisting for the poster competition is a QE first.