Two 11-year-old pupils of Lathom Junior School in East Ham, Eman Ali and Anishka Ithayachandran, have won the “Sum it Up” maths competition, launched by leading edtech provider Renaissance Learning.

Open to all primary school children across the UK and Ireland, the competition encouraged children to think big about how maths can be found in the everyday and create imaginative artwork showing their vision of where they can see and experience maths in the world around them.

“We are best friends and really like working together so this was fun!” said the two winners, “We decided to design our poster based on an everyday scene on a normal high street and the people that would go there and the things you would see. Taking part in the competition helps us to see that numbers are all around us.”

Their joint design was chosen from over 450 entries and provided a visual interpretation of how they picture maths on their local East Ham High Street.

Eman and Anishka’s winning picture was chosen by a panel of expert judges including Catherine Magee, Teacher of the Year in a Primary School Silver Winner and Kjartan Poskitt, author of the Murderous Maths series.

The judges were really impressed by the inventive and inspiring ideas in Eman and Anishka’s winning entry, pointing out how they showed the world in all its mathematical glory – from small items like the handbag on a passer-by to bigger objects like buses. Through their vibrant, detailed drawing it is clear to see that there is maths on the ground, at eye level, at building height and even in the sky.

Eman and Anishka’s teacher Janine Lodhia says: “I am really thrilled children from our school have won – there are not many maths competitions available for children to enter so we grabbed the chance!”

The artistic talents of the winners has won Eman and Anishka and their fellow artists a Kindle Fire and a year’s subscription to Renaissance’s Freckle and Star Maths practice and assessment solutions for their class or school.

More information about Renaissance and Freckle can be found here: renlearn.co.uk/freckle

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