King David students excel in Wits Mathematics Competition

OWN CORRESPONDENT

The competition aims to drive mathematical development and improve standards across the country. In its inaugural year, it attracted 836 students from schools across Gauteng.

King David Schools including King David Linksfield, Victory Park, and Sandton entered 10 students per grade (from Grades 6 to 12) in the demanding written-paper competition.

In the individual category for Grades 6 to7, five out of the top 10 students were from King David Schools. In the Grade 8 to 9 category, King David students occupied two of the top 10 positions, including a first place for Daniel Strous, who achieved 85% in this category. In the Grade 10 to 12 category, one King David Student was placed in the top 10.

In the prestigious School Awards Grade 6 to 7 category, participated in by 24 schools across Gauteng, King David Sandton came first, King David Linksfield second, and King David Victory Park fourth. King David Linksfield came second in the Grade 8 to 9 category, with 41 schools participating. King David Linksfield came fifth, and King David Victory Park seventh, in the Grade 10 to 12 category, with 71 schools participating.

“One of aims of King David schools is to lift the general standard and capability of every student to think more deeply about maths concepts,” said Leigh Pleass, Master Teacher of Mathematics at King David Schools. “We have received a clear indication that we are on the right path to achieving this objective.”

Pleass said that one of the objectives of the Wits Mathematics Competition was to identify talent for the International Maths Olympiad. “As can be seen with these phenomenal results, King David Schools are producing ‘thinking’ pupils with dedicated teachers embracing changing methodology and focusing the students on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” she said.