Students Shine at UK Maths Challenge 14 February 2025

On 29 January, 94 students in Years 9-11 took part in the UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge of which 76 achieved an award. From that number, 27 achieved a Gold certificate placing them in the top 10% in the country. An impressive 22 of them have now been invited to enter a further round of competition known as a Kangaroo and Year 9 student Dirosan, who outperformed all of them, has qualified for entry into the Olympiad round.

Nationally, based on overall scores, students who perform in the top 50% receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. Those who achieve Gold are considered to be within the top 10% in the country in any one year and may be entered into the further, more challenging rounds as a result.

As well as his success at the competition, Dirosan is working towards his Bronze DofE award and for that has been volunteering in the Maths department, running a Year 6 Maths problem-solving club and helping students in Years 7 and 8 in one of the Maths lunchtime sessions.

Bedford Modern School’s Acting Head of Mathematics, Mr Cullen, said: “We tend to have similar success each year we enter and I am very proud of all the students who take part. I would like to pay particular tribute to Dirosan whose effort and commitment outside of the classroom has been extraordinary. He is an excellent role model for our younger students and his achievement is extremely well deserved.”

Dirosan added: “I’m really proud of myself for making it through to the Olympiad round of the Maths challenge. I will do my best and hope for success at the next stage in March.”

Run by the UK Maths Trust, the challenge comprises 25 multiple choice questions to be answered within 60 minutes. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency to make students think but also stretches those with more experience.