MATHS wizards at primary schools across Dudley will do battle next month to see who will be crowned the best young boffins in the borough.

Youngsters will tackle improper fractions, prime numbers, angles and everything else in between at the annual Primary Dudley Inter-School Mathematics Championship on Wednesday, June 21.

Split into two age groups – school years three and four, for seven to nine-year-olds, and years five and six for those aged nine to 11, the competition will feature pupils from 22 primary schools going head-to-head at Saltwells Education Centre in Netherton.

Last year winners, Roberts Primary School, in Lower Gornal, who won the younger category, and Kingswinford’s Blanford Mere Primary School, who took the older category, both return to compete this time around, after more than 80 schools took part in the qualifying heats.

The winning schools will receive a trophy to display proudly, while there will also be individual prizes for the pupils.

Helen Owens, primary school improvement consultant at Dudley Council, said: “We are looking forward to an exciting final. All of the heats were very keenly contested, with the children taking part all a real credit to their schools.

“It showed we have some very able young mathematicians in Dudley, so it should go right down to the wire as to who lifts the trophy.”

Primary schools competing in the year three and four category will be Colley Lane, Fairhaven, Gig Mill, Greenfield, Lapal, Oldswinford CE, Our Lady and St Kenelm’s, Roberts, Russells Hall and St Margarets at Hasbury.

In year five and six there will be Belle Vue, Blanford Mere, Dudley Wood, Gig Mill, Howley Grange, Kates Hill, Newfield Park, Oldswinford CE, Roberts, Quarry Bank, St James’s CE and St Marks CE.