Two Nelson pupils finish first and second in a national times tables competition

The pair, who attend Lomeshaye Junior School, took part in the Times Tables Rockstars’ annual England Rocks battle.

Out of 372,752 children across England, Abdul-Rehman and Muhammed Akhil finished first and second.

They spent three days answering as many multiplication questions as possible, playing for one hour each day. Abdul-Rehman answered 29,161 questions correctly in three hours, meaning he solved almost three every second.

Abdul-Rehman said he was “extremely proud” of his achievement and explained that he has been practising for four years, since joining Lomeshaye in Year 3.

England’s runner-up, Muhammed Akhil, added: “The friendly rivalry between us has made us faster and faster!”

Their impressive efforts also helped their class secure 13th place for total points across all primary schools in the country.

Mr Heseldon, Maths Lead and Deputy Headteacher, said: "Our whole school is incredibly proud—not only of the boys’ achievements but also of Inaya, who finished 11th overall, and all our learners who took part and helped Lomeshaye achieve 6th place overall out of all the schools in England that took part. A big thank-you to families too, who encouraged their children to practise at home. It shows the love of maths that staff and learners foster every day at our school."

Mrs Spokes, Headteacher, added: "We set ambitious expectations for every learner. Each day, we remove barriers and create opportunities, so our school community can thrive. I am grateful for my committed team of colleagues and proud of the children and community we serve."

“Well done to the winners and to everyone who took part!”