CHILDREN from Chippenham and the surrounding villages took part in a maths challenge at Sheldon School’s Sixth Form.

The annual event saw ten teams of ten children from ten primary schools battle it out to find out to see who had the sharpest brains in mathematics.

Each team had a mixture of children from different schools meaning they had to work together to find solutions to the puzzles organised by Sheldon School’s math teacher Zahid Mahmood.

He said: “It is a chance for the children to come into a different school and be inspired by the surroundings and by working together.

“In this way maths is fun and collaborative. There has been a real buzz of excitement in the room which is great.”

St Peter’s Primary School teacher Katherine Merriman said the event helps to introduce children to a senior school and a different environment.

“It’s important for them to mix with other children,” she said, “and to have an enthusiasm for maths and to see maths in a positive light.

“The teams are deliberately mixed so the children work together to problem solve and use reasoning. Maths is not about tests but in this setting it builds confidence in the subject.”

The schools taking part were from Chippenham: St Peter’s Academy, Queen’s Crescent School, Redland Primary, St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Frogwell Primary School. From outside the town were: Calder House School in Colerne, Lacock Primary, Sutton Benger Primary, Kings Lodge in Pewsham and Kington St Michael Primary.