Smith’s Wood female mathematicians triumph: A talented all-girl team of mathematicians took home the gold for Smith’s Wood Academy at Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust’s first Maths Challenge.
Before the challenge began, Smith’s Wood’s maths teacher told his teams he wanted them to finish first, second and third – and by the end of the day, the academy’s best mathematicians had come remarkably close.
It was the first maths competition held by FMAT, which includes Smith’s Wood Academy, Fairfax Academy, Erdington Academy and Bournville All-Through School.
It brought together ten teams of high‑performing Year 8 and 9 mathematicians from across the four schools to compete in rounds inspired by UKMT competitions, including group problem-solving and a fast-paced relay round.
The all‑girl Smith’s Wood team – Kiara Travers, Scarlett Summers, Valery Osamundiamen and Joeliyn Anthony Egberamwen – took the lead in Round 1, with other teams unable to close the gap.
Smith’s Wood Maths teacher, Mr Trafford, said the event was the perfect opportunity to stretch the most able students. He explained that two of the Year 9 pupils taking part had already passed GCSE papers in Year 7.
He said: “They also like the sense of competition, and so do I. Hopefully it will keep going in future years.”
Another Smith’s Wood team also managed to snatch third place.
Year 9 Smith’s Wood student Riley Ward said maths is his favourite subject, and he even set up an after-school maths club with his friend in Year 7.
Riley said: “I’ve always been one of the top mathematicians in my class, even in primary school, it’s just something I was born with.
“But this competition, it’s something I’m used to – lots of maths questions, but the team element is different so you are relying on other people as well, so it can be harder but then there are more minds working on one question.”
The event was hosted at Fairfax Academy and supported by their Year 12 students, whose maturity and leadership were praised by organiser Miss Thompson, Academy Improvement Advisor for Maths and Numeracy.
She said the students had chosen to stay and help run the event despite most of their year group being on a reward trip, and that the day simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Miss Thompson will now be gathering feedback from staff and students, with hopes of making the Maths Challenge an annual FMAT event.