Budding mathematicians claim new challenge prize

A team of budding mathematicians from Ipswich Preparatory School triumphed over seven other schools at a recent maths competition held at Littlegarth Prep School in Horkesley Park, Essex.

The Ipswich team of Nadia Mason, Markus Noske, Catherine Whittle and Ben Hubner, all from Year 6, took part in eight different challenges, over a gruelling but fun three hours.  The puzzles had to be solved by the team working together, and included the Chinese 100 Square, where the children had to put together the hundred square without knowing the characters and then find the Chinese answers to mathematical questions, and Dominos Doughnuts, a challenge of matching up mathematical equivalents and making a ‘domino doughnut’ without speaking with their team mates.

Amanda Childs, headteacher at Ipswich Preparatory School, said: “This was the first time that Littlegarth had organised the competition, and we were delighted to have been awarded the Challenge Shield as the inaugural winners.  I’m very proud of our team of four – they worked incredibly well together, listening enthusiastically to each other’s opinions.  They didn’t give up on any of the tasks, many of which were very difficult, even for the watching adults!”

The Ipswich Prep School team were clear winners but all the teams thoroughly enjoyed the day.