How Croydon College Turned the FE Maths Challenge into a Whole-College Celebration – Valeria Panyko, Curriculum Team Manager (GCSE and Functional Skills Maths), Croydon College
Alongside the work of the FE Maths CPD Programme, there are many initiatives across the sector that are creating opportunities for students to experience success and recognition in maths.
Valeria Panyko, Curriculum Team Manager for GCSE and Functional Skills maths at Croydon College, shares how hosting the FE Maths Challenge London Regional Final became a whole-college project, bringing together departments, staff and students to celebrate achievement in maths.
Creating Opportunities for Recognition
“Through the FE Maths Challenge, MEI gives resit students an opportunity and a platform where they can feel special, and they can be celebrated. It doesn’t happen very often that students in resit maths classes have an opportunity to stand on the podium and be recognised for their maths knowledge.
Croydon College has been involved in the MEI FE Maths Challenge since 2022, and every year we have some great achievements in the Regional Final, which makes our students (and of course their teachers) very proud. Last year, we decided not only to participate but to apply to become the London Regional Centre. We had a vision: instead of a one-day event, we’ll turn the Maths Challenge into a project, involving a range of departments within the college, giving students the opportunity to gain work experience or support their assignments while contributing to the event.
Turning a Competition into a College-Wide Project
The project started in June 2025, as soon as we got the announcement that Croydon College would host the Regional Final in the next academic year. We met with the Art department, and by the end of the meeting, it was agreed that art students will design and create the medals for competitors achieving 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. In October, the art lecturers and the CTM came to the maths department, showing us a great selection of designs. They were impressive, but one was outstanding.
Student Collaboration Across Departments
The T-level Engineering students were asked to design trophies for the 1st place groups (in all 3 categories: GoForth, Ein2stein and The Funkies). Seeing the draft work, we quickly decided to reward not only the first but the second and third place groups as well, and we had some incredibly creative trophy plans to select from. The base was designed for 3D printing, incorporating integrated lighting. The trophies were produced using a 3D printer and a laser cutter.
Bringing the Event to Life
On the day of the Regional Final (25 February 2026), Public Services and Cabin Crew students supported our visitors to ensure they were welcomed and they found their way to the hall where the challenge took place. Also, they ensured that visitors are using the designated areas and nobody gets lost or distracted from ongoing lessons. Carpentry students cut a photo booth frame, which was painted by Motor Vehicle students. The Music Department provided entertainment during lunch break, and student photographers captured key moments of the event.
A Lasting Impact Beyond Maths
We are very grateful to MEI for giving us the opportunity to host such a prestigious event, which brought excitement to the college – and not only to the maths department. As maths teachers, we gained valuable insight into the work of a range of vocational courses, and contributing students have benefited from it as well. We’re delighted by the feedback we’ve received, and we feel that the FE Maths Challenge London Regional Final was indeed a special project for many of us at Croydon College. It gave us the opportunity to see more, to link more and to celebrate more.”
Join us for our next National online event
We are grateful to everyone who joins us for our National online events, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event.