Year 10 pupils from Bury come out top at annual maths contest

Teams of four from across Bury, Bolton, Manchester and Rochdale went up against each other in the tournament, held at Bury College.

But it was a team of Year 10 pupils from Bury Grammar School Girls that progressed through the four rounds of the Bury College Maths Challenge 2018 to secure first place.

Safiyah Patel, a pupil at Bury Grammar Girls, said: "We were so surprised to hear that we had won.

"It was great to partake in the Bury College Maths Challenge. I enjoyed the whole day."

Year 10 pupils began the tournament with a series of warm-up questions, followed by a quick-fire first round.

They then undertook a countdown round, based on Channel 4's game show, before progressing to the third stage — standing to their feet and moving around while carrying out mathematical calculations.

The day finished with a team challenge, where any wrong answer cost the group marks. All of the questions were based on GCSE maths material.

Dr Austin, head of maths at Bury Grammar Girls School, said: "We were really pleased to win and the pupils thoroughly deserved it after working so hard to prepare for the tournament.

"This is the third year that Bury Grammar Girls has attended the Bury College Maths Challenge and I think it is a great event which raises the profile of maths and encourages more pupils to engage in the subject."

Participating schools included Wardle Academy who secured second place, Oulder Hill Community School, who took away third place, as well as Tottington High School, Beech House School, The Elton High School, The Co-operative Academy of Manchester, Hollingworth Academy, Castlebrook High School, Bury Grammar School Boys, Bury Grammar School Girls, Middleton Technology School, Parrenthorn High School, The Albion Academy, Siddal Moor, St Matthews RC High School, Matthew Moss High School, Broad Oak Sports College, St Monica’s RC High School, Moorside High School, Little Lever School and Kingsway Park High School.