Two of our Year 7 mathematicians had the huge privilege of representing a ten-strong team at the world finals of the Jaguar ‘Maths in Motion’ challenge at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire on Wednesday 21 June.

Jitong Yi and Jessica Abrams, along with eight of their teammates, had worked hard during Maths Club sessions on this amazing challenge which is now in its sixteenth year. The challenge, created by car manufacturing giants Jaguar Land Rover, aims to engage and motivate young people and show them some of the practical uses of maths in the real world, and also prove to them that maths can be fun.

Using ‘Cloud’ based software that simulates the setting up of a racing car, the girls had to complete a series of STEM relevant tasks in an effort to produce the perfect ‘virtual’ car. This activity involved a wide range of basic mathematical skills, some practical, being used and applied in order to design and make their car. The girls also had to use their mathematical skills, without the aid of a calculator or any other form of assistance, to work their way through a whole range of issues relating to motor racing in order to become race ready. Grand Prix style races then took place throughout the year resulting in our team reaching the finals along with twelve other teams not only from the UK, but from as far afield as China and Australia.

The girls were very excited to be representing not only their team, but one of only two girls’ schools present. Over 100,000 students registered to take part in the contest, making it a real achievement to get through to this stage. Jessica and Jitong enjoyed the experience very much and having started 30th on the grid, managed to overtake some of the competition to move up the leader board finishing in 21st place, and came 10th out of 14 in the senior section. This is quite an accomplishment given that they are still just in Year 7 and it was a WORLD final, as the girls said:

The experience was very fun and the museum was brilliant, even though we didn’t come close to winning it was a fabulous experience, especially working together and finally being able to enter into the Maths in Motion WORLD final. We would love to do it again next year.

We are incredibly proud of the whole team and of the girls who represented them at this event. They were brilliant ambassadors for the school, their behaviour was impeccable, and they proved that girls really can and do enjoy and succeed in STEM subjects.