Friday 13 November 2015 Four young number crunchers from a Horsforth primary school did their sums right to win a hotly contested junior maths competition. In the final of the Leeds and District Junior Schools’ Maths Challenge, hosted by The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL), the year 6 team from Horsforth Newlaithes Primary School outscored 19 other schools to lift the trophy. The 20 finalists had already made it through the semi-finals in which 58 teams took part. The Horsforth team of Leo Gaunt, Isabelle Plowman, Ben Crowther and Will Hobson were accompanied by year 6 class teacher Mrs Jenny Atcheson. Jenny said: “We hadn’t entered the challenge for a few years, however the current year group are very keen so we gave it a go and it paid off. “Even the internal competition to pick the team was a tight contest. We had to do four re-tests; they all love maths! The competition has been a good way to stretch our more able children, especially as some of the rounds were different to the work we do in class.” Leo said: “It was really good and exciting, maths is my favourite subject. Most of it we’d done in class but some was new and I’m glad we made it to the final! Thank you to Mrs Atcheson for being our teacher and bringing us today.” Isabelle said: “It was a really good opportunity; I never thought we’d win!” The runner-up spot went to Aspin Park Primary School, Knaresborough, and St Luke’s C of E Primary School, Beeston Hill – Leeds, took third place. GSAL invites primary schools from across Leeds and surrounding areas to take part in this annual competition, which provides a fun way for talented young mathematicians to test their knowledge and apply their skills to new maths problems. A different school has won in each of the eight years the competition has been run, so the title really is up for grabs! To get your school involved please email lee-ann.humphries@gsal.org.uk General
