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Primary Maths Challenge

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 8:54 pm
by scarymary
Can anybody tell me if this is of any academic value - ie, if your child gets a bronze, silver or gold certificate, does it indicate a certain academic standard or is it the equivalent of getting a medal for colouring in?

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 9:34 pm
by Etienne
It is initially aimed at the top 60% of pupils in Years 5 and 6. More than 99,000 pupils took the Challenge in November 2008, and 69,000 certificates were awarded.

692 pupils were then invited to take part in the National Finals in February 2009.

Results of the Finals:
Gold 49 pupils
Silver 145 pupils
Bronze 176 pupils

Those who get through to the Finals ought to be very good indeed!

http://www.m-a.org.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=257

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:13 pm
by scarymary
Thanks Etienne, though I'm still a bit confused.
My daughter has a Primary Mathematics Challenge certificate from last autumn which says:
'Silver Award Winner! November 2008'
I'm pretty sure she wasn't in any final, and I know a good few of her classmates also have a 'silver level' certificate, so what does this certificate mean?

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:25 pm
by paula
Hi Scarymary
My daughter earned the same silver cert in Yr 5 and she is now at PGS.
Hope this helps :D

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:28 pm
by Etienne
I think that would be a silver certificate for the initial round rather than a silver medal for the final.

Just to confuse things, however, I note that schools can - optionally - "order PMC medals for your pupils who got high marks in the November PMC"! :)

Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:34 pm
by scarymary
Thanks everyone - I've managed to get my brain around it now!