Unprecedented success for mathematicians

A team of QE mathematicians reached the final of an élite competition for the first time in the School’s history.

The QE pupils were defeated by just three points in the final of the Hans Woyda competition, which has traditionally been dominated by leading independent schools.

Bhavik Mehta from Year 11, Rahul Mukherjee, of Year 13, Gabriel Gendler, of Year 12, and Nitharsan Sathiyalingam, of Year 9 (pictured below from left to right) defeated City of London School in the quarter-final and Harrow School in the semis of the competition. In the final they encountered St Paul’s School, the winners of 14 of the previous 21 tournaments, and were defeated 46 – 43.

The contest went to the last Race round, at which point QE was trailing by five points. Despite winning this round the team could not close the gap. “Although it was obviously a little disappointing to lose, it was good to give St Paul’s a close game,” said Mathematics teacher Geoff Roberts. “In the past they have won many times by substantial margins, so our boys all acquitted themselves really well to achieve such a narrow margin of defeat and to be runners-up in such a prestigious event.”

Each of the boys received a Mathematics book inscribed with their name, sponsored by the London Mathematics Association.

The annual competition attracts entries from 64 schools from London and the south east region. Competitors must be able to apply a wide range of high-level mathematical skills – often against the clock.