The OBS Mathematics Department has had a busy term with respect to enrichment this year. A total of 24 students took part in the UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge at KS5, another 25 participated in the Portuguese Mathematical Olympiad across KS3, 4, and 5, and 29 students competed in the ISMTF Virtual Competitions.

Mathematical competitions serve an important purpose in an educational context. In addition to generating excitement and competitiveness among students, they also allow students to see the creative side of mathematics, which can sometimes be overshadowed by the demands of highly academic exam boards. Nicolau Ribeiro, a Form 10 student, participating in the ISMTF Junior Competition, commented on how he had encountered a problem that he initially thought required knowledge of a topic he had never studied. However, he later realised that even a primary school student could have solved it through deduction and reasoning.
 
Each of these competitions emphasises different but equally important aspects of mathematical challenge, pushing students beyond the syllabus requirements. The Portuguese Mathematical Olympiad, for instance, is infamous for awarding the lion’s share of points specifically for precise mathematical communication and elegant solutions. This challenge also includes the ability to articulate highly complex mathematics in Portuguese. Last year, several of our students advanced through subsequent rounds, and Ms. Drummond is expecting more students to advance this year, having already sent off the scores.