Stockport Grammar Pupils are Code Breaking Champions
Pupils from Stockport Grammar School proved they are the best codebreakers in the country after winning the National Cypher Challenge.
Nine pupils from the Fifth Year and Sixth Form competed against over 3,500 teams in the National Cipher Challenge at the University of Southampton. The team, who called themselves Pythag’R’Back, performed outstandingly and bagged the top team prize of £1,000.
The team – Sam Howard (captain), Nathan Kingsley, Wolodymyr Krywonos, Callum Boyle, Lauryn Howard, Murray Jallands, Pippa Brown, Phoebe Micklefield and Alex Pollard – will be presented with their award at Bletchley Park, the once top-secret home of the World War Two codebreakers, in March.
Entrants were tasked with deciphering and unravelling a series of encrypted messages on Rome’s Lost Legion, which vanished in Northern Britain in 108 AD.
Head of Maths, Mr Greig Frankland said: “The Maths department is always keen to offer additional opportunities to take part in individual and team competitions and there is a real buzz around the place.
“To win the National Cipher Challenge out of over 3,500 teams is incredible. The team were in school until quite late one evening trying to decrypt the final message – it really felt like a mini-Bletchley Park!
“I am truly pleased that all their hard work paid off and it is thoroughly deserved. We hope to celebrate more successes over the next few months in other competitions so watch this space!”
