New College Pontefract Mathematics students have had a busy few months this winter. In November, 37 students sat the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust Senior Maths Challenge. 82,000 took part nationally with the top 10% receiving a gold certificate, the next 20% receiving a silver, and the following 30% receiving a bronze. New College students accumulated a fantastic haul of 6 golds, 14 silvers and 14 bronzes.
The top 1000 placed contestants were then invited to sit the British Mathematical Olympiad round 1, with the next 6000 being invited to sit the Senior Kangaroo round, both of which took place in December. New College’s highest placed student, Josh Liddicott, made it through to the BMO round 1, whilst 5 students (Sam Platt, Matthew Pawson, Nick Doughty, Adam Wigglesworth and Lewis Butler), were invited to sit the Kangaroo round. Matthew Pawson received a merit for his score that put him in the top 25% of all competitors.
In addition to these successes in the individual competitions, New College Pontefract students Richard Shackleton, Matthew Pawson, Josh Liddicott and Gabriel Snowden competed at the UK Mathematics Trust Senior Team Maths Challenge on Thursday 16th November 2017 at the University of Leeds. 20 teams from across the region took part with the New College quartet placing a very impressive 4th.
The UK Mathematics Trust is a registered charity whose aim is to advance the education of children and young people in mathematics. The Senior Maths Challenge is aims to stimulate mathematical problem solving and schools and colleges.
Daniel Holden, teacher of Maths at New College Pontefract said, “It was a pleasure to take our team to compete in Leeds; they were a credit to the college and worked fantastically well as a group in a very competitive regional final. There was enough interest to fill the team 4 times over with enthusiastic and very capable mathematicians.”
In a separate event, a group of students captained by current New College year 12 student Gabriel Snowden (aged 16 from Goole), entered the national Ritangle competition, run by Mathematics Education Innovation. Open to students studying A-Level Mathematics, the competition consists of a series of 21 questions, released over 21 consecutive weekdays. The first question was released on the 9th November with the final question unlocking an overall answer based on the solutions to all of the questions. The New College team submitted a correct answer within the time limit and have therefore been published on the “roll of honour” on the Integral Mathematics website.
Gabriel said, “It was one of the best things I’ve ever taken part in, and I’m sure I’ll remember it for as long as I live. The challenge, the comradeship, and everyone coming together who are passionate for the same thing; it was a truly unforgettable experience, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone who took part. I can’t wait for next year.”
The New College team at the maths challenge
New College Students take over a whiteboard in their quest for correct Ritangle Challenge answers.
