Team achieves top 10 finish in UK Maths Competition
Congratulations to Seth, Oliver, Ismail and Gabriel who proudly represented Bridgewater School at the 2026 UK Team Maths Challenge Regional Final this week.
Organised by the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT), the Team Maths Challenge (TMC) is designed to promote mathematical dexterity, teamwork and effective communication. It provides Year 8 and 9 students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in unfamiliar contexts, working collaboratively to solve a range of engaging and often complex problems, while competing against other schools from across the region.
The competition itself consists of several fast-paced rounds, each requiring a different approach – from group problem-solving to relay-style challenges where precision, clarity and teamwork are essential. These varied formats encourage students not only to think mathematically, but also to articulate their reasoning clearly and work efficiently as a team.
Competing in a closely fought context against nearly 30 schools, the Bridgewater team achieved an impressive 8th place – a fantastic accomplishment at such a high level of competition. Their performance reflects both their strong mathematical ability and their commitment to working together under pressure. Most importantly, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and represented the school with enthusiasm and pride.
Bridgewater team member, Oliver, shared his experience:
“Taking part in the UKMT Maths Challenge was a great experience for me and my three friends. We left school just after the start of first period, feeling excited and slightly nervous, and arrived ready to compete. Once we got there, we started with some warm-up maths questions that got us thinking carefully and helped us focus before the main competition began.
The actual challenge was full of difficult maths problems that tested our logic, reasoning and problem-solving skills, but we stayed calm and worked through them carefully. In the end, we came 8th out of 30 schools that completed the competition, which we were really proud of, and the whole team was pleased with the result.”
We are incredibly proud of the way in which the team embraced the challenge. Opportunities such as the Team Maths Challenge play an important role in developing confidence, resilience and a genuine enjoyment of mathematics beyond the classroom.
