Newtown pupils top national Primary Maths Challenge

Two primary school pupils from a Newtown school have taken the top two places in a national maths competition, finishing first and second across the UK. 

Alban and Charlie, who study at OneSchool Global’s Newtown Campus in Sarn, achieved outstanding results in the Primary Maths Challenge for Years 5 and 6, a nationwide competition that tests pupils’ reasoning, problem solving and calculation skills.

Year 6 pupil Alban secured first place nationally after achieving a perfect score of 25 out of 25. His result placed him at the top of the leaderboard among pupils from schools across the country.

Alban said the challenge was demanding, particularly towards the end of the paper. “I found the last question very tricky, and it took me a long time to work it out. It involved lots of different operations including fractions. I was so pleased when I found out I got it right.”

Year 5 pupil Charlie also impressed judges with a score of 22 out of 25, earning second place in the national rankings. He said his enjoyment of the subject played a big part in his success. “My teacher makes maths really fun and I enjoy challenging myself,” he said.

OneSchool Global Newtown Campus welcomes pupils from across Powys and Shropshire and has been based in Sarn since opening in 2001. The school is part of the wider OneSchool Global network, which operates campuses across the UK and internationally.

Christopher Edwards, Campus Principal at OneSchool Global Newtown Campus, said the results reflected both the pupils’ dedication and the school’s approach to learning.

“We have big ambitions for our students despite being a small campus, and the outstanding achievements of Alban and Charlie show that our students match those ambitions,” he said.

“This success is no surprise. Both pupils work exceptionally hard every day and are excellent examples of our Learning to Learn framework, showing real dedication, self direction and a drive to improve.

“Our primary education team works tirelessly to inspire students to be the best they can be, and by achieving national success, Alban and Charlie have demonstrated the high standards we expect. We are extremely proud of them both.”