Bungay High School has hosted its annual Summer Maths Challenge for Year 5 students from the local area.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Pupils were tasked with constructing the scaffolding for a cathedral roof repair. Photo: Bungay High SchoolPupils were tasked with constructing the scaffolding for a cathedral roof repair. Photo: Bungay High School (Image: Archant)

This year’s event, held on Thursday, June 22, took on an engineering theme.

The seven competing teams were briefed that a construction company had won a contract to repair a cathedral roof.

Youngsters had to efficiently create the scaffolding using the least materials possible, before modelling their solution using straws.

Tension was afoot when the towers were tested for their height and weight-bearing ability and, in the end, judging literally came down to the last straw.

Petrena Sprake, the day’s organiser and the school’s Mathematics Transition Co-ordinator, said: “It was wonderful to see children from different schools working so well together. There was a real buzz of creativity.

“Many of them made new friends and we all really enjoyed the challenge.”

The winners were Hannah Payne, Sasha Pallister , Billy Jordan and Charlie Loryman.