By ROBERT GIBSON robert.gibson@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 12:37, Friday, 12 March 2010

OVINGHAM Middle School pupils have completed a gruelling times tables marathon to raise £800 for learning disability charity Mencap.

Talking numbers: Ovingham Middle School pupils hand a cheque for £800, raised during a times table marathon, to Dilston College pupils. From left are Sam Smith, Andrew David Robson, Emily Turnbull, Haley Brown and Tom Quigley.

Children in years four and five were set individual targets, then challenged to meet them on five 100-question tests given between December 7 and December 11 last year.

Every pupil who met or exceeded expectations was entered into a prize draw, while the top class in each year group was awarded with a non-uniform day.

Money raised through sponsorship was handed to representatives of Mencap’s Dilston College last Thursday.

“A huge thank you is in order for all pupils who participated,” said head of Year Five Dave Henriksen.

“Around 100,000 times tables questions were answered by pupils across the two year groups and over 60 per cent of these were answered correctly in timed tests – a fantastic achievement.”

First published at 09:42, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk