Chichester students finish first in MEI Maths Challenge regional final

Three students at Chichester College who are retaking their Maths GCSE finished first in the Funkies category.

The Funkies category, one of three categories in the competition, is for students whose highest GCSE grade, to date, is grade one.

They went up against students from Brighton MET College Queen Mary’s College and Havant and South Downs College. 

The event, hosted by the University of Sussex at their Student Centre, concluded the last regional leg of MEI’s Further Education (FE) Maths Challenge; a competition for post-16 students who studying either Functional Skills or GCSE Maths.

Elizabeth Hopker-Blunt, a mathematics education support specialist at MEI, explained: “Essentially, we wanted something to motivate and engage students who were really struggling and not particularly liking their maths.

“What this gives them a chance to do is to compete with other students at their level to have a fantastic day out, and a fantastic journey through the competition from the class round through to the regional finals, and to really feel proud of their achievements.”

The day began with some Tarsia puzzles, which involved arranging geometric shapes or cards to form a coherent pattern or solution, followed by a Kahoot quiz after lunch, and tours of the university throughout the day.

Jodie, one of the students who represented Chichester College at the competition, said: “I really enjoyed it, I definitely would say I have improved my maths skills.

“I really hope it will let me get the grade I want for my maths, even though I’m nearly there I am hoping this event will get me over the line.”

Dmytro, another one of the students who took part, added: “my teacher told me this challenge would really help me, it definitely has, and I have enjoyed it.

“I think it has improved my confidence, I am hoping to go on a science study course, and this course is going to be a good plus for me.”