WELLINGTON School has hosted the 27th Maths Challenge.

A total of 240 children from 58 local primary schools pitted their knowledge of number in a morning of questions and conundrums.

In addition, a further two schools took part remotely from Oman.

Hordes of children, parents and teachers poured into the school's Princess Royal Sports Centre to take part in this fabulous annual event and it was great to see so many pupils enjoying themselves and so engaged and involved in some tricky maths problems.

They were ably assisted by the Wellington School maths department and some pupils who themselves have taken part in the challenge over the years.

Wellington School head of maths Peter Buckingham said: "As in previous years, we were keen to include a variety of questions from across the mathematical spectrum.

"The paper included some school maths skills as well as some unfamiliar puzzles.

"On this occasion, the multiple choice questions and the longer questions presented equal challenge.”

RESULTS.

The overall winner was Eastover Community Primary School, from Bridgwater;

Second place went to Parkfield Primary School, in Taunton;

In third place was Culmstock Primary School;

Special mention should also be given to Staplegrove Church School and St James Church School, Taunton, for their high scores on the challenge;

And West Monkton Church of England School, Hambridge Community Primary School and The Duchy School (Bradninch) made the closest estimates of the total number of sweets in the three jars.

This year, the challenge was written by Lydia, who attended the event as a student 14 years ago.

After leaving Wellington School, Lydia gained a first class honours degree in mathematics from Merton College, Oxford University. She is now completing her PhD at the University of Bath.

As hundreds of parents, families and school teachers re-assembled for the presentation of the prizes, there was a palpable tension and feeling of excitement in the air.

Jubilant children won certificates, quiz books and mathematical problem cubes and once again, Wellington School was proud to have hosted another successful morning of intellectual stimulation, fun and challenge.