UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge
Over 280 RGS Computing students participated in the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge between 13 and 17 November. The challenge is run by Hertford College, Oxford University and is aimed at students aged 6 to 18. It is split into 6 different categories:
- Kits (age 6-8)
- Castor (age 8-10)
- Junior (age 10-12)
- Intermediate (age 12-14)
- Senior (age 14-16)
- Elite (age 16-18)
Students started with 38 marks and were given 40 minutes to try and complete 18 challenges split into three different difficulty ratings – A (easy), B (medium) and C (difficult). Each difficulty had its own set of marking criteria and the maximum marks available were 200. 289 RGS students participated in the challenge across 4 different categories:
- Junior – 75 students participated (where 20 students were awarded Distinction and 19 students awarded Merit)
- Intermediate – 147 students participated (where 37 students were awarded Distinction and 38 students awarded Merit)
- Senior – 60 students participated (where 15 students were awarded Distinction and 15 students awarded Merit)
- Elite – 7 students participated. (where 2 students were awarded Distinction and 2 students awarded Merit
5 students were awarded the ‘Best in School’:
- Junior – Tom N
- Intermediate – Douglas Y and Alex J
- Senior – Harvey N
- Elite – Milo S
The top 10% of students in this year’s Bebras Challenge will be invited to take part in March in a new Coding Challenge – TCS Oxford Computing Challenge. At RGS the number that qualified for each category is:
- Junior – 12 students qualified
- Intermediate – 25 students qualified
- Senior – 14 students qualified
- Elite – 3 students qualified
Students who are in the top 50 or so students in the country in their age group (of which over 140,000 students took part this year) will receive invites to the Oxford Finals at Oxford University in March 2018. These should be posted to schools in the next couple of weeks.