Challenge sees pupils take on rival schools in battle of the numbers

The event was held yesterday at Bedenham Primary School, in Gosport.

Thirty-four teams of children were challenged in a quiz that tested their ability and creativity.

Headteacher Tracy Potter said the idea was to get more children excited by numbers.

She said: ‘The children were set a range of puzzles to work together, while teaming up to complete two maths trails and four rounds of quiz-style questions.

‘It was a great opportunity to have fun and to do some mathematics.’

The competition was divided into two stages, with the children sorted according to their age and year.

The first stage, which took place yesterday morning, saw 15 teams representing 12 schools from Gosport and Fareham compete, with children aged from six to seven-years old.

The second stage saw 19 teams of children, aged between seven and 11 years old, representing 14 schools, compete in the afternoon.

One of the organisers, Sarah Davies, said: ‘It’s nice to see the children from different schools coming together and getting so focused. It brings the whole community together.’

The winners of the first stage was the team from Crofton Hammond Infant School in Mancroft Avenue, Fareham.

They were followed by Alverstoke Infant School, in Ashburton Road, Gosport and Crofton Anne Dale Infant School, in Cuckoo Lane, Fareham.

The second stage was won by Alverstoke Junior School, followed by Crofton Anne Dale and Bedenham Primary.

Year 5 Bedenham student Jenna Field said she thought the event was exciting.

The nine-year-old said: ‘It’s an entertaining way to learn maths and hopefully, I’ll get to prove what I’ve learned in the future.’

Six children from Bridgemary Secondary School in Gosport were also helping out, making sure the papers were collected in time and supervising the activity tables.

Year 9 student Jess Winmill, from the Wych Lane school, said: ‘I’m really interested in working with younger students and helping them progress in their learning of maths.

‘I volunteered because I thought I would be able to help them and if I become a teacher, then I’d know a few things about marking.’