The UK Bebras Challenge

During the fortnight of the 4th to 15th November 2024, current Year 9 students took part in the annual UK Bebras Challenge (UKBC). The competition introduces computer science to students and is designed to get them excited about computing. The UKBC is a problem-solving competition with a focus on computational and logical thinking. This year, over 3 million students took part in the competition worldwide!

Computational thinking involves using a set of problem-solving skills and techniques that software engineers use to write programs and apps. Examples of these techniques would include the ability to break down complex tasks into simpler components, algorithm design, pattern recognition, pattern generalisation and abstraction.

Questions are inspired by topics in computer science but only require some basic reasoning ability. Students had to answer up to 15 questions in a 40-minute time period. The questions have varying degrees of difficulty and the points awarded reflect this.

Balshaw’s students have taken part in this competition each year for the past twelve years! This year, 166 students in Year 9 took part! The ‘Best In School’ winner was Clayton H with 204 points and in joint second place were Isaac H and Max W, both with 182 points. Stan G was third place with 179 points. The next best four, with 177 points were Neeve B, Thomas C, Evie H and Nathan S. These students received a certificate and a prize from the Business & Computing Department.

The top 25% of students received a ‘Certificate of Distinction’, those in the top 50% received a ‘Certificate of Merit’ and everyone else who entered the competition received a ‘Certificate of Participation’.

The top 15 students from Balshaw’s were in the top 10% nationally and also received a Gold Award Certificate! These students have been invited to take part in the next round, The Coding Challenge, in March/April 2025.