Lyme Regis: Woodroffe students win maths contest (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: Woodroffe students win maths contest

10:30am Saturday 14th April 2012 in Lyme Regis

BRIGHT maths students from Woodroffe School claimed the number one spot in Dorset after winning a countywide competition.

The quartet – Tess Voysey, Chris de Bank, Fran Penrose and Ele Saltmarsh – were delighted after claiming honours at the Dorset County Maths Challenge.

Woodroffe maths teacher Catherine Kelly said: “The competition was fierce.

“There were teams fielded by Thomas Hardye, Purbeck, Wey Valley and All Saints schools.”

The competition featured six rounds including two relays and two Countdown-style rounds.

Year 11 competitor Tess said: “Throughout the first couple of rounds we thought it was just luck that we were already at the top of the leader board.

“But eventually we figured we were doing rather well.”

She added: “In one of the rounds there were five questions, all of which the Year 11s had done just a few days before thanks to Dr Kelly’s foresight.

“We did drop a few easy marks in one round, but pulled through to win the competition outright.”

The Woodroffe team will now compete in the regional heat at the Met Office in Exeter.

Year Seven student Dani Walters also proved that pupils were top of the class when it came to writing.

She has recently returned from a creative writing course at Kilve Court, near Bridgwater in Somerset.

Dani said: “The whole experience was brilliant.

“It was lots of fun making new friends and being able to share ideas and a love for writing.”

The one week residential course was for students who show particular flair in creative writing.

It involved writing poetry and playscripts with students from other schools.