George Heriot’s team in UK maths top two

Published on 12/12/2012 12:00

A TEAM of pupils from George Heriot’s School has been honoured by Countdown star Rachel Riley after going close in a national maths contest.

Sixth-year pupils Grace Dobson, Holly Hart, Nathan Stringer and Fraser Mason battled tough competition from 650 teams to reach the grand finale of the National Young Mathematicians Awards at Cambridge University.

They were edged into second place by a school from Surrey and were presented with their runner-up prizes by the
Channel Four game show’s maths expert.

Sara Gordon, junior school principal teacher of learning enhancement at George Heriot’s, said: “To not only be the top team in Scotland, but also be in the top five in the UK, is a fantastic achievement.

“The children have all worked so hard and were rightly complimented for their team spirit. They have returned to school full of enthusiasm after being named some of the best young mathematicians in the country, and I am sure they will never forget their day at Cambridge University.”

Pupil Fraser Mason added: “Cambridge University is an amazing place. I can’t believe that we were doing maths in the same building as Stephen Hawking.”