PUPILS at Devizes School certainly know how to do their sums.

The school entered 120 pupils from its top maths sets in years seven and eight in a national competition and their performance was one of the best the school has had.

The pupils, aged between 11 and 13, entered the UK Junior Mathematical Challenge in which more than 211,000 youngsters entered.

The challenge involved pupils answering maths questions in one hour under exam conditions.

Of the 120 Devizes students who entered, two achieved gold certificates, ten got silver certificates and 17 achieved bronze certificates.

Carolyn Kerr, the school's head of maths, said: "We got more certificates this year than ever before."

l Alex Frost, a pupil at Bishops Cannings Primary School, was the only State pupil to take part in a maths challenge at Dauntsey's School, West Lavington. He came fourth overall.

Celia Hicks, the deputy headteacher, said: "Alex is thrilled at doing so well in the maths challenge. He loves maths."