About Us
Creating UnforgettableLearning Experiences
challenge ME was co-founded by Carla Stevens and Robert Shanley. At challenge ME, we believe that education should be more than just textbooks and tests. It should be a journey of discovery, growth, and meaningful connection.
Our championship is designed to push students beyond their perceived limits, fostering critical thinking and collaboration in a high-energy, supportive environment. We bring schools together from across the globe to celebrate mathematical excellence and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Our Mission
We understand the importance of Mathematics in every student's academic journey. Yet, conventional education confines this subject to the classroom, missing out on the enrichment experienced in other subjects like music, drama, and sports. While students excel in competitive and celebratory settings beyond the classroom, such opportunities are scarce in the field of Mathematics.
Our mission is to redefine students experience within Maths by providing students with engaging and exciting experiences beyond the status quo. We believe that true educational enrichment encompasses both classroom instruction and real-world experiences. challenge ME was founded to bridge this gap, offering students the opportunity to not only celebrate their mathematical prowess but also to compete, collaborate, and grow.
Why Choosechallenge ME
Proven Engagement
In just two years, we have reached over 75,000 students, making challenge ME one of the fastest-growing maths competitions.
Four Progressive Stages
Carefully structured competition journey designed to be inclusive, while still challenging the very top mathematicians at every level.
Progression Over Scores
Scores are not shared directly with students, giving schools the flexibility to guide feedback. This creates a low-pressure environment where participation drives progress.
Real Skill Development
Designed to build true mathematical ability, using carefully crafted questions that develop fluency, reasoning and advanced problem-solving skills.
Whole-School Impact
Individual and school recognition helps drive school-wide engagement by making maths more visible and celebrated.
Built by Teachers, for Teachers
We understand what works in the classroom, designing the Championship with teachers in mind to ensure it is practical, impactful and easy to deliver.
Learn From TheBest Teachers
Carla Stevens
Co-Founder
Robert Shanley
Co-Founder
Ceri Ward-Jones
Championship Revision Lead
Rob Bergin
Lead Curriculum Advisor
Kirsty Howes
Schools Success Coordinator
Jay Spencer
Championship Delivery Lead
What Teachers Are Saying
Adam Dowdall
Maths Teacher, Queen’s School Qatar
Queen’s Qatar pupils have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the challenge ME Maths Championship. The competition has given students the opportunity to challenge themselves, develop their problem-solving skills and compete with enthusiasm against pupils from across the region.
Jay Spencer
Head of Maths, Nord Anglia Dubai
The students at NAS Dubai have absolutely loved being a part of challenge ME again this year. It has been so rewarding to see so many of them make it to the follow-on stages. Having one of our students named as the ultimate winner for Year 7 was one of the highlights of the academic year.
Maya Vaghela
Secondary Maths Teacher, Jumeriah English Speaking School - Arabian Ranches
challenge ME has been a wonderful opportunity for our students to challenge their mathematical thinking skills and apply problem solving. The events are always a joy to attend and have created an enriching experience that gets students excited about maths.
Karyn Walton
Deputy Head, British International School of Tunis
challenge ME has been a high-quality, motivating experience for our pupils and school community. Weekly quests and international leaderboards drove engagement and measurable progress in mathematical thinking, with pupils proudly sharing their learning in school. Parents were visibly delighted, reporting increased confidence, discussion at home and real ownership of learning.
Zara Dada
Deputy Head Academics, Sherborne Prep School, Bani Hajer
The challenge ME Maths Championship was a brilliant opportunity for our pupils to stretch themselves beyond the classroom. The children were highly engaged by the weekly quests and really enjoyed the challenge, competition and sense of achievement it brought. It was easy to organise and a very positive experience for our school.
Lucy Webb
Head of Maths, St Christopher's School Bahrain
The students thoroughly enjoyed participating in the challenge ME Maths Competition. The four stages of the competition kept them engaged, motivated and excited to test their mathematical skills. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to compete with students from across the region.
Rachel Munif
Head of G&T, Hartland International School
Our pupils have enjoyed challenging themselves in the weekly quests. They have loved the weekly leaderboards to see how they have done as a school and as an individual. Really well organised too.
Hazera Hoque
Primary Maths, Doha British School Rawdat
The children have loved engaging in this experience! They’ve really enjoyed completing the quests and I’ve had other children now ask if they can join in too!
Ellie Honey
Maths Teacher, Repton Al Barsha
Our pupils have found the experience invaluable. They have learned so much throughout the process, and the championship has truly helped every single one of them grow in their mathematical abilities.
Francesca Sah
Assistant Head Kings’ School Al Barsha
This has been a fantastic experience, engaging children in challenging Maths quests that spark creativity and problem-solving. Easy to organise, it inspires teamwork and critical thinking!
Hema Fernandez
Head of Maths, Ambassador International Academy
Well-executed, providing students with a stimulating environment that both engaged and challenged them our students at AIA. Well done!
Fathima Rishana Azmie
Deputy Head, Dubai Gem Private School
The entire idea from the start till now has been extremely positive and in my opinion, has been a great motivator for our students to engage with Mathematics.
Samuel Hutchinson
Maths Teacher, British School Al Khubairat
Participating in the challenge ME Maths Championship has been a great experience. The students were excited to find out their individual and team results each week. Can't wait for the next round!
Farzana Syed
Maths Teacher, Pristine Private School
Our students had an incredible experience participating in the challenge ME Quests. The level of challenge kept our students motivated and eager to learn more.
Kimberley Nye
Maths Teacher, Doha College
In our first year participating in challenge ME, students across every year group were highly engaged and motivated by the competition. The weekly quests created a real buzz around maths across the school, encouraging enthusiasm, problem-solving and positive competition between students. It has been fantastic to see so many pupils genuinely enjoying and looking forward to the challenges each week.
Wardah Ansari
Assistant Head Secondary School, Beech Hall School Riyadh
It was our second time taking part in the Championship this year and it created an exciting and inspiring environment where students were eager to challenge themselves, support one another and grow in confidence with mathematics. It made maths enjoyable, rewarding and something students looked forward to being part of.
Nabila Fariha
Director of Learning for Gifted & Talented, GEMS World Academy
challenge ME has been a fantastic experience for our secondary students. The competition challenged students to think critically and analytically beyond the classroom, while engaging learners of all ability levels. It has helped build independence, confidence and a growth mindset that supports success both academically and beyond.
Duale Said
Secondary Maths Teacher, Safa British School
Our pupils at Safa British School really enjoyed the challenge ME Maths Championship. It promoted creative thinking, teamwork and problem-solving, while keeping students highly engaged. The competition was well organised from start to finish and a positive experience for staff and students. Thank you to the organisers for an inspiring event.
Kelly O’Donnell
Prep Maths Lead, Brighton College Dubai
The Championship was a really positive experience for our pupils. They thoroughly enjoyed taking part and were highly motivated throughout the different rounds. I particularly liked how independently the children were able to engage with the competition, building their confidence and perseverance along the way. Reaching the finals was a fantastic achievement and something they were very proud of. Thanks again for organising such a well-run competition.
Beth Demisse
Head of Mathematics, Sandford International School
The challenge ME Maths Championship at Sandford International School has been an incredibly valuable initiative, encouraging students to think independently, challenge themselves academically and develop resilience. Beyond maths, it has helped build confidence, leadership and a genuine love of learning.
Ben Pointer
Secondary Maths Teacher, Bloom World Academy
challenge ME has been a wonderful activity for our students this year. The competitive spirit and engagement in math class that has stemmed from the activity have been really refreshing and our students are all ready preparing for next year's competition.
Dónal McCann
Year 5 Class Teacher, Oryx International School Qatar
Our students have really enjoyed participating in challenge ME Maths, showing enthusiasm and confidence when tackling challenging problems. They particularly enjoy the inter-school aspect, which adds excitement and motivation, while encouraging deeper thinking, independence and a positive attitude towards mathematics.
Tyler Barnet
Head of Primary Mathematics, Safa British School
challenge ME created an engaging and inspiring experience for our pupils. Despite moving online, the competition remained exciting, purposeful and highly professional throughout. The challenges encouraged resilience, problem-solving and a genuine love of mathematics, while the personal delivery of medals made pupils feel truly recognised and valued. We are incredibly grateful for the passion and commitment shown by the challenge ME team.
Jenna Brooks
Lower School Mathematics Leader, Dwight School Dubai
I have been extremely impressed with challenge ME from start to finish. The onboarding support was excellent, and any questions I had were answered promptly, often within just a few hours. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the in-person semi-finals, which were exceptionally well organised and engaging. They especially loved the collaborative team challenges and the inspiring keynote speech from a renowned mathematician.