Having done exceptionally well in the Bebras UK Computational Thinking Challenge at the end of last term, achieving full marks and ranking amongst the top 20 pupils across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Year 7 pupil Jamie Liu was invited back to participate in the final stages of the national contest. Along with the top performers from schools across the country, Jamie headed to Oxford University’s Department of Computer Science in order to compete in the challenge.
Having already seen off the majority of the competition in the main contest stage, Jamie was one of 14,000 pupils chosen to return for the final stage, from 56,600 pupils who took part in the original competition. The competition was split into Juniors, Intermediate, Seniors and Elite age categories. Participating in the Junior category, Jamie was up against the top performers from as far as the north of Scotland. Jamie did exceptionally well, scoring 166 points and finishing in 10th place of the thousands of pupils participating!
As one of the top 32 performers of the 14,000, Jamie was treated to a day of lectures by Professor Peter Millican, who has recently developed a new degree programme at Oxford University in Computer Science and Philosophy. He also experienced tours of Hertford College and the university grounds, as well as discussions with the current university students. After the final challenge had taken place, a prize giving celebration was held in the Chapel of Hertford College. Jamie said of the day that he thoroughly enjoyed all of it, and hopes to return next year to better his already impressive score!
And it is not just computing in which Jamie is excelling recently; starting the year on a really high note, Jamie was also invited to attend the Reading Sports Personality of the Year awards, and received the award for Male School Personality of the Year. Jamie, a keen table tennis player, was presented with the award by Olympic rower Sam Townsend at the Hilton Hotel, Reading. Jamie has also been invited to take part in the Oxfordshire schools Individual Table Tennis qualifiers; 2016 is certainly shaping up to be a successful year for this busy Shiplake pupil!
