Welcome to The Challenge and our Website...
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We are delighted that i-desk, one of our sponsors, has invited us to join them on their stand at the forthcoming Education Show. Both Brian (National Organiser) and Wendy Richardson (Teacher Training Coordinator) will be on hand throughout the 3 days of the Show to demonstrate the Challenge software, using i-desk's new short throw projector and interactive whiteboard. Why not use this unique opportunity to come along and find out for yourself what it means to take part, both for you and your pupils? Whether you are one of the hundreds of schools already taking part, or are just thinking about joining in the fun for 2010-11 for the first time, please come along to Stand W15 and say 'Hello' to us - it could be the start of something big!
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Challenge participants are now eligible to apply for a British Science Association CREST Bronze Award. Click on 'News' for full details...........
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The 2009/10 Challenge started last May with the publication of the new Version 11 software and there are nearly 1,000 schools across the UK currently taking part. The first knockout round takes place on 25th March and nerves are already starting to 'kick in' at some schools! The Challenge is now in its 9th season and, if the emails and teacher evaluations we receive are anything to go by, it is more popular than ever. Our aims are simple; to help raise standards of achievement in mathematics across an age range of 9 to 16, to help motivate students generally and to show students of all abilities that maths can be fun! Using tried and tested software that simulates the setting up of a racing car, students will encounter a variety of mathematical tasks (some practical) in an effort to win a series of races! The competitiveness of the Challenge will keep your students focussed for months! Just look at what is covered...
- Percentages
- Multiplication, Division
- Calculator work (or not!)
- Decimals, rounding, context
- Ratios, chance, risk, strategy
- Angles, measurement, scale
- Speed, distance, time
- Maths modelling... what happens if?
- Engine performance, aerodynamics, gears, suspension
- Team strategy, working together
- Interpreting graphs, statistics
- Data handling
- Personal Learning and Thinking Skills
- Functional Maths Skills
- And you don't have to know anything about cars!
The Challenge is now recognised as something that not only motivates both the students and teachers who take part, it also brings a freshness to the teaching and learning of mathematics across the board. Indeed, from teacher feedback, it has become clear that the Challenge, and what it is achieving, is stretching way beyond the maths classroom and into all walks of school life!
The Challenge is Sponsored by:
Recent News
10th February 2010 / A Day at Philips High School, Bury
We had a fabulous day with 48 Year 6 students working with Jill Rothwell on a transition years project involving 6 feeder Primary schools. Click here to see some pictures and a world exclusive video clip of them singing 'Happy Birthday' to me!!
29th January 2010 / Final Training Day of 2009/10
The final teacher training day of the 2009/10 Challenge took place at Range School, Formby. Click here for picture and story.
27th January 2010 / eTwinning Event
This 2 week event involved teachers from 15 European countries being trained by UK teachers to set up and race a car. It was run by Val Brooks and a team of volunteers who all take part in the Challenge. The winner was Marie Sturmova from the Czech Republic. Na zdravi!
22nd January 2010 / Teacher Training Days, Bromley and Darlington
The last planned teacher training day of 2009 was held at Pedmore Technology College today. Photos on the 'News' page.
11th December / The 2009 Christmas Fun Race
WOW! The biggest entry for any single race EVER!! Click on 'The Races/Christmas Fun Race' above to see if you have won or made the 'Top 20'.
4th December / A lovely story from Peel Park Primary, Bradford
See the 'News' page for an email extract from Garth Hall that, quite simply, makes it all worthwhile!
18th November 2009 / British Science Association CREST Awards
We are thrilled to announce that we have become an accredited linked scheme for CREST Awards. CREST is Britain's largest national award scheme for project work in STEM subjects - 25,000 young people achieved CREST Awards last year alone. See the 'News' page for further information.
22nd October 2009 / Teacher Training Day, Stourbridge
The last planned teacher training day of 2009 was held at Pedmore Technology College today. Photos on the 'News' page.
21st October 2009 / National Champions Visit Jaguar
Chatham House Grammar School, Ramsgate, visited the Jaguar Castle Bromwich site today. More details on the 'News' page.
15th October 2009 / Practice Lap Leaderboards
New to the website just last week, we received our first submission for inclusion in our leaderboards section today. It was for the Bahrain track and can be found by clicking on 'The Races/Practice Lap Leaderboards/Bahrain'. Well done Leon!
14th October 2009 / Teacher Training Day, Chatham
The first real STEM training day was held in Chatham today. More details on the 'News' page.
9th October 2009 / Teacher Training Day, Glasgow
15 schools were represented at this very lively and enjoyable training day. Thanks to Joe McLaughlin, of Learning and Teaching Scotland, and his colleagues for organising it all and for liasing with the participating schools. Click on 'News' to see a photo.
6th October 2009 / News from Woodside Junior School, Amersham
Bexley Penhaligon, the teacher who runs the Challenge at Woodside, has sent us a piece of written work that was done by Sarah and Denis. They were in Year 5 when they wrote it! If you are in any doubt as to what our Challenge encourages and motivates pupils to do, just have a read of what they wrote - we've got it in their own handwriting! Click on 'News' to read it.
27th May 2009 / News from Barcelona
We visited P. S. Jordi s/n, La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona and raced around the Hungaroring track with some of the pupils and their teacher, Paquita Terrada. Click on the main 'News' button to see some pictures.