ISCOT Senior School Mathematics Competition at Wellington College International Tianjin

Organised by the Mathematics Department at Wellington, the ISCOT (International Schools Conference of Tianjin) Senior School Mathematics Competition was held for the third consecutive year running at the Tianjin-based sister school of Wellington College in the UK. With a stated aim of enhancing skills in teamwork, problem-solving, communication and mathematical endeavour, the tournament brings together all the international schools in Tianjin community with the intention of enhancing pupil performance through competition and collaborating on a departmental level between teachers. As Dragana Popovic – Head of Mathematics at Wellington explains, “the Mathematics tournament is an incredibly valuable opportunity not only for young learners but for teachers also. Our modern, global community is constantly subject to competition from an increasing range of new and unique external factors, and as educators it is our responsibility to expose ourselves and our pupils to this concept from an early age”. Held on Tuesday 16th February, each team was represented by four competitors, each of whom were subjected to four rounds of questions of varying style and nature – ranging from question-based activities to spatial mathematics. Key Stage Three Coordinator and teacher of Mathematics, Mr. Eamonn Williams was keen to emphasise the importance of organising such a competition from the perspective of the teacher. “With the competition being spread across year groups – having two levels of questions for lower and upper senior school pupils respectively, the pursuit ensures that as educators we are constantly listening to one another and communicating, as only then can we ensure that our curriculums truly meet the needs of some seriously talented mathematicians”.