Pupils ace maths challenge

A TEAM of bright young things from Parkroyal Community School have been crowned the winners of an inter schools maths challenge.

The team took part in a three hour challenge set as part of the ‘ Primary Schools Mathematics Challenge’ set by The King’s School.

The Parkroyal pupils were among 13 teams of four super bright young minds from 12 different primary schools from across the Macclesfield area.

In second place were Marlborough Primary School and in third place were students from Alderley Edge Community Pri- mary School. The other teams competing were King’s Juniors, Hollinhey, Lower Peover, Ash Grove, Bollinbrook, Marton, Bollington St. John’s and Rainow Community Primary schools.

Selected by their schools for their numerical and analytical skills, the pupils took on a series of taxing questions including: ‘Dolly’s age is the reverse number of her aunt Ada’s age and is six elevenths of the difference: What are their ages?”

Parkroyal Gabriella Ninka, 10, who wants to be a scientist, said teamwork helped them come out on top. She said: “Usually we work quietly, but today we were encouraged to talk to each other and work as a team.”

Each of the Parkroyal team said they loved maths and it was their favourite subject.

Lily Robinshaw, 10, who wants to be a zookeeper, said: “I like how you can have different ways to get to the same answer.”

And Oliver Cope, 10, who wants to be an explorer, added: “Maths helps you measure anything and everything: how heavy something is or how long something is and means we can analyse everything around us.”

Parkroyal Teaching Assistant Carolyn Tuson, who accompanied the team, said: “I am so proud of their enthusiasm and team-working.

“How they employed different strategies to arrive at the right answer and how they collaborated intelligently as a team.

“The whole school is going to be very proud of them too.”

Andrew Hillman, assistant head of Maths at King’s, added: “It has been a very special and exciting day for the Maths Department - working with such sharp and receptive young minds is always an absolute delight.”