HSD pupil wins UK-wide computing challenge

Haoqi Liu, L7 (P7), has been announced as the winner of the Junior category in the Beaver Challenge, an Oxford University-organised problem solving contest which introduces pupils to computer science.

83,500 pupils took part in the first round of the junior event, with Haoqi and 120 others gaining full marks. 4,100 entrants then went on to the semi-final, in which Haoqi shared the top mark with 3 others.

Just 20 youngsters qualified for the final, with Haoqi being crowned the overall winner after achieving the best mark!

Head of Computing Science at the School, Scott McBride, said, “Haoqi was first, not equal but overall – on his own – which is a fantastic achievement and one he should be very proud of!”

Over 500 HSD pupils took part in the competition, which is open to pupils from P3 through to S6, with the complexity of the challenge adjusted for the different age categories. In all, 24 of the School’s pupils made it through to the semi-final stages after achieving ‘gold standard’.