Numeracy skills add up to success in national maths competition

A fab foursome of Loch Primary pupils showed off their numeracy skills when they participated against other pupils from across the UK for a national award.

Mark Allen, Rachel Crichton, Abby Jameson and Kieran Mitchell (all 11) took part in the National Young Mathematicians’Awards.

The team just missed out on a place in the grand final; having already won through two stages of the contest.

Now in its fifth year, the event is run by Explore Learning, in conjunction with the NRICH project at the University of Cambridge and is designed to inspire and challenge talented mathematicians from across the UK.

It is the only team maths competition for primary schools in the UK.

The Loch foursome enjoyed initial success in the regional knock-out contest which took place at the Explore Learning centre based in Sainsbury’s at Kingsgate Retail Park in November.

They then went on to a semi-final stage at the Explore learning centre in Darnley where school teams from across Glasgow battled it out against other top schools in the region to try and win a space at the Grand Final taking place at the University of Cambridge.

It proved a successful trip for the team as they won the event, meaning they were up against other schools from across the UK for a finals place.

Unfortunately, their points were not quite enough to make it through to the final, but teacher Ashlea Russell said:“Everyone at Loch Primary is extremely proud of their achievements and hope the pupils continue to develop their numeracy skills and enjoy maths challenges.”