Maths whizz school team wins national competition for the first time after years of entering
Bancroft's School maths whizz students win United Kingdom Maths Trust's Team Challenge for the first time
Bancroft's team, front row, L to R: Anika Vijay, Shanuga Rubaraj , Zaki, Lodhi, Shivan AggarwalBack row centre: Mr Ray Tse, maths teacher & team coach
Four talented maths students have been crowned the winners of a national competition.
Bancroft's School, from Woodford Green, took part in the United Kingdom Maths Trust's Team Challenge final at the Royal Horticultural Halls on Monday, June 17.
Shivan Aggarwal, Zaki Lodhi, Shanuga Rubaraj and Anika Vijay from Year's Eight and Nine, were taken by surprise as this year's champions, defeating Eton and Westminster schools among 87 others.
Bancroft's School maths teacher, Ray Tse, who had coached the team, said, "I am both proud and honoured to have worked with this group throughout this process. I told them to remember, nothing is impossible.
"If you give it your best shot and you still come second, there is nothing to be ashamed in losing to better opponents, but it is shameful if you don't grab the opportunity and give it your best."
Head of maths at Bancroft's, Martin Flaherty, also praised the team.
He said: "Not only were the team worthy winners but each of them was so modest and humble in receiving their prizes and trophy. In essence, they were model representatives for the school."
The Team Challenge is an annual event which attracts aspiring mathematicians from all across the UK, over 1,700 schools entered teams into one of the regional rounds this year alone.