Young maths students are ranked among the best in the country

THE numbers are adding up for an academy’s wizard mathematicians who have been ranked among the best in the country.

St Aidan’s Academy, Darlington, student Aidan Sterling has led the way from knowing his 12 times tables in reception class to securing a Grade B in GCSE papers in just Year 7.

In the UK Junior Maths Challenge the 12-year-old secured Best in School and Best in Year placing him in the top seven per cent of mathematicians in Years 7, 8 and 9 in the country.

Overall the academy secured four silver and two bronze awards in the national challenge. His efforts were applauded in assembly along with Cieran Davies, Jack Saunders, Liam McLaren, Ben Friary, and Matthew Plimmer.

Director of Learning Maths David Spenceley said: “This is the first time we have had this level of achievement, which is very rare nationally. We have some very talented maths students and they have done extremely well.”

Aidan added: “I have loved maths since nursery and knew my 12 times tables by reception. My older brother Connor is studying maths at college and I hope to do a degree in it before working as a games designer. I was really please to do so well in the challenge.”