Mathématiques sans Frontières
Mathématiques sans Frontières is an annual international mathematics competition for schoolchildren, centrally run by the Académie de Strasbourg, where the UK branch of the competition is administered and funded by the Scottish Mathematical Council and volunteers.
The competition involves several mathematical puzzles where one is posed, and must be answered, in a foreign language. The light-hearted competition is designed to promote mathematics, the practice of a foreign language, and teamwork.
There are two divisions to the competition: the Junior section (S4 level) has 10 questions, and the Senior section (S5 level) has 13 questions. Both sections have a 90 minute time limit. It is a team event, with teams normally consisting of an entire class. However, pupils should split the questions up between themselves for full effectiveness.
Timeline
Register for 2026 Competition
Complete your details below before 30th January 2026 to register for the 2026 competition.
This Year's Competition (2025) and Last Year's Competition
In 2024, 30 schools provided 45 entries with the furthest entry reaching us from Al Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi!
In the Junior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Albyn School - The Pioneers
- St Mary's Music School
- Peebles High School
- High School of Dundee - MA4B1
- Robert Gordon's College - RGC Ellis Kids joint with The Glasgow Academy - The Geometric Gigglers
- Strathallan School - Paul's Baddies joint with The Glasgow Academy - The Mathemachickens
- Al Yasmina British Academy joint with Bell Baxter High School
In the Senior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Strathallan School - No Inglis
- The Glasgow Academy - Pi Hard with a Vengeance
- Robert Gordon's College - Fogiel's Funktion Fanatics
- High Storr's School
- Robert Gordon's College - Ananth's Boyz
- Charterhouse - Team 2
- Myddleton College - Myddleton Mathletes
- St Thomas of Aquin's RC High School - The Number sin2x+cos2x Team
- High School of Dundee - MA5A1
- The Glasgow Academy - Charlies Angles
In 2025, we welcomed 69 entries from 37 different schools across Scotland, England, Wales, Tanzania, Italy, and Germany!
In the Junior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Robert Gordon’s College - Maths Apprentices
- Albyn School - No Hay Problema
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S4 En B
- Hutchesons' Grammar School - Line joint with Robert Gordon’s College - The AQA Aces
- Albyn School - No Team Name joint with Grange Academy - Mrs Wilson's 4M1 Class
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S4 En A
- Wellington School - Mainly Smidge
- The Glasgow Academy - Well Obtuse You
In the Senior Competition, the Top 10 Teams were:
- Robert Gordon's College - 5AP
- The Glasgow Academy - The AbSURD Apes
- High School of Dundee - 5B1
- Robert Gordon's College - MacGibb-onacci Sequence joint with Charterhouse School
- The Glasgow Academy - The Mathmichickens
- Europaische Schule Frankfurt Am Main - S5 En B
- The Mary Erskine School - Pythagorosas
- Bishopbriggs Academy - No Team Name
- Leith Academy - No Team Name joint with Marling School - No Team Name
The overall winners of this year's competition were the Junior team Maths Apprentices from Robert Gordon's College.
Practice Papers
Previous Winners
| 2025 | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen |
| 2024 | Albyn School, Aberdeen | Strathallan School | Albyn School, Aberdeen |
| 2023 | Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen | Charterhouse School, England | Charterhouse School, England |
| 2022 | Glasgow Academy | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen |
| 2021 | No Competition due to Covid-19 | ||
| 2020 | High School of Dundee | Lochaber High School | Lochaber High School |
| 2019 | Wellington School, Ayr | Grange Academy, Kilmarnock | Grange Academy, Kilmarnock |
Entries from previous participants
Contact us
If you are interested in learning more about Mathématiques sans Frontières, please contact us here, contact organiser Dr Alan Walker (alan.walker@uws.ac.uk), or see us on Twitter (@MSF_Scotland).