OMEC Years 7 & 8

Ten schools from the East Northants area attended the Oundle Mathematical Enrichment Conference for pupils in Years 7 and 8 (OMEC 7&8) presented by the Thomas Deacon Education Trust and Oundle School.

The 80 young people who attended were guided through a variety of stimulating practical problems to uncover the mathematics behind them including the famous Towers of Hanoi problem presented here by Oundle School’s Mr Atkins. Mr. Atkins has trained the UK national Mathematics teams in the past and is the recipient of a lifetime service award from the UK Mathematics Trust. The pupils were ‘wowed’ by his session which was delivered in his usual inimitable style. Mo Ladak from the Thomas Deacon Academy, a well-known name in local Mathematical circles, led another session where pupils completed the first stages of a proof of Fermat’s 2 Squares Theorem which for many was their first step into this important mathematical concept and helped to push the boundaries of their experience.

Accompanying teachers took part in a training session led by Ms Rayner (Essential Mathematics) on the Bar Modelling Method. Her session was thought provoking, practical and very well received by the teachers. Teachers also had an opportunity to meet and discuss recent undertakings within the departments of their schools and to share best practice as well as observing some of the pupil sessions.

The event finished with a circus of activities where schools competed against each other on some practical but taxing mathematical logic problems. The standard of pupils’ mathematics was very high from all participating schools but ultimately Uppingham Community College were the winners, closely followed by Prince William School and University Academy Holbeach.