MATHS experts at The Royal School, Haslemere, are deriving great pleasure after beating 22 other teams to be crowned winners at the regional final of the Senior Team Maths Challenge.

The challenge, jointly organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust and the Further Maths Support Programme, was held at Surrey University and consisted of three rounds, each lasting 40 minutes.

Royal School team members were Selina and Isabella (upper sixth) and Lucy and Hedy from the lower sixth. The team, accompanied by Jane Orchard, their coach and school maths teacher, set themselves a target of a top-five finish.

After the group round and a cross number round, their skilful team work had paid off and they were placed in the top six teams.

The third round was the shuttle round, and then all 23 teams had an anxious wait to hear the final results.

“Imagine our excitement and joy when they read out ‘first place goes to The Royal School’" said Mrs Orchard.

“We were presented with our certificates by Dr Peter Neumann, an eminent British mathematician from Oxford University and one of the founding members, and the first chairman, of the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust.

“What an incredible achievement. I am so proud of the team – they all contributed so much individually, mathematically but more important than all of that they achieved this success through their team work, perseverance, enthusiasm and belief in each other. It was an amazing day full of maths, excitement and a lingering sense of achieving something really special.

“We are now looking forward to the final, which will take place on Tuesday, February 7 in London, when we will come together with all the other regional winners from across the country.”