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Eye on Education: King James’s School, Almondbury

IT has a reputation for producing fine mathematical wizards.

IT has a reputation for producing fine mathematical wizards.

And King James’s School in Almondbury is celebrating once again.

Many youngsters achieved accolades in the UK Intermediate Maths challenge, a competition run by the University of Leeds for able mathematicians.

This year 100 of the school’s maths whizzkids from years nine to 11 sat the maths examinations.

One student, Joe Shaw, received a gold certificate, 19 others got silver awards and 22 picked up bronze.

This is not the first year that the school has achieved mathematical success.

In 2010, the school, which has specialist science and maths college status, had 38 of its year seven and eight students receiving awards in the UK Junior Mathematical Challenge.

Student Leo Haigh did so well that he qualified for the National Mathematical Olympiad, which is for an elite group of the best young mathematicians in the country.

Maths teacher John Britton said: “We are delighted with the achievements of students which show the strength of mathematics at our school.

“We have a reputation for producing good mathematicians with many of our students going on to study the subject at A level and degree level.”


It organises national mathematics competitions and other mathematical enrichment activities for 11 to 18-year-old UK school pupils.

Last academic year more than 600,000 pupils from 4,000 schools took part in the three individual challenges, the UK’s biggest national maths competitions.

Each challenge leads into a follow-on Olympiad round and the Trust runs mentoring schemes and summer schools for high performing students as well as training the team of six to represent the UK in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Think maths is easy? Why not have a go at some of the questions yourself?

1. Harrogate is 23km due north of Leeds, York is 30km due east of Harrogate, Doncaster is 48km due south of York, and Manchester is 70km due west of Doncaster. To the nearest kilometre, how far is it from Leeds to Manchester, as the crow flies?

A 38km B 47km C 56km D 65km E 74km.

2. Max and his dog Molly set out for a walk. Max walked up the road and then back down again, completing a six mile round trip. Molly, being an old dog, walked at half Max’s speed. When Max reached the end of the road, he turned around and walked back to the starting point, at his original speed. Part way back he met Molly, who then turned around and followed Max home, still maintaining her original speed. How far did Molly walk?

A 1 mile B 2 miles C 3 miles D 4 miles E 5 miles.

3. What is the value of 4.5 × 5.5 + 4.5 × 4.5?

A 36.5 B 45 C 50 D 90 E 100.

4. A shop advertised “Everything half price in our sale”, but also now advertises that there is “An additional 15% off sale prices”. Overall, this is equivalent to what reduction on the original prices?

A 7.5% B 35% C 57.5% D 65% E 80%.

ANSWERS: 1 B 47km; 2 D four miles; 3 B 45; 4 C 57.5%


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