A DARLINGTON school has come top of the class in a national maths competition.

Illona Stanga, Ruhul Abdin and Jack Smith, all from Branksome School, won gold certificates in the Schools Intermediate Maths Challenge. Fifty Branksome pupils took the test and six were awarded silver and bronze certificates.

Two 14-year-old pupils, Eleanor Scaver and Hannah Garget, have qualified for the Kangaroo Challenge, which is a Europe-wide maths contest. They are awaiting their results.

It is the third year pupils from Branksome have taken part in the European test. Later this month, pupils aged 11 to 13 will take part in the Junior Maths Challenge.

Keith Hatton, head of maths, said: "I'm extremely pleased with the pupils' results and hope this success will be repeated in the junior challenge.