What is the Count on
Us Primary Challenge?
The Count on Us Primary Challenge is a maths tournament for Year 4 and 5 pupils involving over 100 schools from across London. The tournament focuses on shape puzzles, number games and code breaking challenges to help develop children’s confidence, problem solving skills and most importantly, their enjoyment of maths.
After running activities in school, schools select a team of their top mathematicians to represent them in the Regional Heats. Qualifying teams are then invited to City Hall for the final events in the summer term.
The Count on Us Primary Challenge is split into three main categories;
Round 1 Shape – A team activity based on tangrams and pentominoes
Round 2 24® Game – Mental arithmetic activity using 24® Game cards
Round 3 Codebreaking – Using the Caesar cipher to decode messages and solve a problem
Have a go at the 24® Game:
The 24® Game consists of a pack of cards. Each card has four numbers printed on it. All four numbers on the card must be used once and once only to make 24 using the four basic arithmetic operations; +, -, × and ÷
For example:
4 – 2 = 2
4 x 3 = 12
12 x 2 = 24
Have a go at these cards and see how you get on. A 10-year-old can complete card 1 (click to download) in 15 seconds and card 2 (click to download) in 30 seconds. Can you beat a 10-year-old?
What will taking part in the Primary Challenge involve?
Each participating school will be required to;
- Pay a one-off fee of £150 per school. This covers all of the resources and training that your school will receive, in addition to your pupils’ participation in the tournament.
- Select a lead teacher to attend teacher training in November 2018
- Commit to practising for the Primary Challenge in school
- Select a team of three pupils to represent your school in the regional heats, with qualifying teams making it through to the final events at City Hall
*Please note that this year we have less spaces available and therefore will be prioritising schools with higher percentages of pupils on Free School Meals (FSM).*
How to get involved
Inspired to take part? Please fill out your details at the below link and we will be in touch shortly to tell you if your school has been selected;
