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MEI’s FE Maths Challenge is a national competition designed to inspire and support post-16 students who are improving their maths skills and working towards gaining a Functional Skills maths qualification or improving their GCSE Mathematics grade. The challenge creates an environment where students become absorbed in the experience, allowing confidence and self-belief in maths to grow naturally through participation and shared success.
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Further Education (FE) Maths Challenge
What is the FE Maths Challenge?
A video explaining what the challenge is about.
In 2021, MEI developed the challenge into a national project, expanding its reach to colleges across England and Wales. Creating an inclusive maths challenge designed to ensure equitable access to engaging mathematical experiences to more students and regions.
The MEI FE Maths Challenge continues to evolve and grow, building on its success.
Our ambition is to strengthen the challenge with new features that inspire learners, support teachers, and generate greater excitement for maths across FE colleges nationwide.
It goes beyond competition – helping students build confidence, achieve success, and develop a real sense of belonging in FE maths.
Ready-to-use induction lesson
Start the year with a high-quality, fully prepared lessons that builds early engagement and excitement for the challenge, while supporting curriculum delivery that require no extra workload.
Mini schemes of learning
Explore flexible, bite-sized schemes of work that can be slotted into lessons or enrichment activities, enhancing pedagogy and providing extra resources to integrate the FE Maths Challenge into your curriculum.
More Tarsias and Kahoots
Enjoy an expanded range of interactive Tarsia puzzles and Kahoot quizzes, that bring maths to life, supporting students with fluency, reasoning and problem solving, while keeping learners engaged, motivated, and practising their maths skills in a fun way.
National Final
Building on the success of the inaugural National Final in 2025, top teams from across the country will once again come together to compete for the national title.
National League
Each region competes against the others to see how many students compete in the first round of the challenge.
How to get involved
There are two ways to get involved in the FE Maths Challenge:
Become a Regional Centre
By becoming a Regional Centre you will lead the competition within region.
Register by 27 May 2026 to apply to be a Regional Centre …. Click here to register as a Regional Centre
Register to be a College Lead
As a College Lead you will take responsibility for organising the teams and managing the challenge within your college
Registration for College Lead will open in June 2026
Regional Centres
To be confirmed in June 2026
NATIONAL Final
To be confirmed in June 2026
Student Teams Information
The competition is open to any student in 16-19 education (or in the case of an EHCP, aged up to 25) who has not yet achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE Mathematics, who is enrolled at a college, school, sixth form, or training provider.
Students aged below 16 on 1 September 2026 and those on adult courses are not eligible for this competition.
There are three entry categories:
- The Funkies – for students whose highest GCSE grade is a grade 1 or studying Functional Skills entry
- Ein2steins – for students whose highest GCSE grade is a grade 2 or studying Functional Skills Level 1
- Go Forth – for students whose highest GCSE grade is a grade 3 or studying Functional Skills Level 2
Key dates for the competition
Induction Lession
September – November
In class, presentation and introduction to the challenge..
Training
November – Early December
In class, using Kahoot! Quizzes to build engagement and confidence.
First Round
November – December
In class, using Kahoot! Quizzes as part of a fun, competitive first stage.
College Final
January
Held in your own college,consisting of a Tarsia domino puzzle and Kahoot! Quiz to identify and select teams to progress to the next stage.
Regional Final
March
Held in a regional college or large venue, consisting of a Tarsia domino puzzle and Kahoot! Quiz, bringing together top teams in a competitive and exciting setting.
National Final
April
Held nationally at a college or large venue, consisting of a Tarsia domino puzzle and Kahoot! Quiz where the top teams compete for the national title in a high-energy final.
A word from our sponsor’s
AQA are proud to sponsor the FE Maths Challenge and their aim to raise the quality of maths education for everyone. We believe that this competition enables learners to become more confident about their maths ability and boosts their self-belief in other areas of their life.
We set and mark the papers for around half of all GCSEs and A-levels, but we’re more than an exam board. As an independent education charity we reinvest all of our income. From funding cutting-edge research, to supporting new insights that help raise the bar in assessment practice internationally, we’re always focused on fair and inclusive assessment and the positive impact it has on teaching, learning and society.
AQA
The RAF Charitable Trust is the charity behind the Royal International Air Tattoo. The charity uses the proceeds of the show to support young people to achieve their potential in STEM, air and space. They are supporting the FE Maths Challenge for the first time this year, including offering a visit to Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) for the national winning teams.
The RAF Charitable Trust
91
%Students stated that the challenge” was “Good” or “Excellent”.
84
%Students feel that the challenge has improved their confidence in maths
80
%Students feel that the challenge has improved their confidence in taking their maths exams
“I really enjoyed taking part in the FE Maths Challenge, as it provided an engaging and thought-provoking experience. The variety of questions tested not only my mathematical skills but also my problem-solving abilities, encouraging me to think critically under time constraints. I particularly appreciated the balance between straightforward and more complex questions, which made the challenge both accessible and stimulating.”
Student FURTHER EDUCATION MATHS CHALLENGE
Read more about previous Further Education (FE) Maths Challenges
Grimsby Institute
Students Put Their Maths Skills to the Test at Regional FE Maths Challenge Final – Students from colleges across the region came together at the Grimsby Institute for the MEI Further Education (FE) Maths Challenge East & East Midlands Regional Final…
Worthing College
A Total Success: Worthing College Students Impress at Maths Challenge Finals – Maths students recently represented the college with pride as they took part in this year’s Mathematics Education Innovation (MEI) FE Maths Challenge South Regional Finals…
Coventry College
Coventry College Proudly Hosted the MEI Maths Challenge Regional Finals at CBS Arena – Coventry College proudly hosted the regional finals of the prestigious MEI Maths Challenge, welcoming around 120 students across 11 separate further education providers…
FE News
A record-breaking win for students in MEI’s FE Maths Challenge 2023. Waltham Forest College students broke the Tarsia challenge record, winning first place in the MEI’s FE Maths challenge against 16 other colleges…
Frequently asked questions
Please contact our support team via our contact us via fecpd@mei.org.uk
Or ring us on: 01225 716495
MEI supplies all the questions and materials needed for the challenge and will send them to you before the competition begins.
Other competitions
Calculator Crunch – it’s fun and it’s free
Calculator Crunch is a challenge that aims to develop calculator familiarity for secondary school maths. Calculator Crunch problems provide practice for Year 6 and 7 pupils in key areas of the primary maths curriculum and develop confidence with calculators in readiness for secondary school maths.
Ritangle
The Ritangle competition is a maths challenge designed for A level, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, and students of equivalent qualifications. Engaging challenges that will push your limits, Ritangle offers a fun and competitive way to explore your passion for maths.