For decades, the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) has been synonymous with secondary school mathematics competitions. But in 2025, the Trust took a bold step that has reshaped its mission from the ground up: it launched the Primary Kangaroo, a competition designed specifically for children aged 9–11. This article explores how UKMT is now reaching the youngest learners, the innovative Primary Mathematics Resources programme, and the landmark City of Maths Leeds 2026–27 Celebrations — a new chapter in the Trust's history.
The Primary Kangaroo: UKMT's newest competition opens the door to mathematical enrichment for children as young as 9
The Primary Kangaroo: A Competition for the Youngest Mathematicians
Launched in 2025 to great acclaim, the Primary Kangaroo represents UKMT's most significant expansion of its competition programme in years. Part of the prestigious international Kangaroo family of papers — linked to the International Kangaroo Organisation, which runs one of the largest mathematics competitions in the world — the Primary Kangaroo brings UKMT's hallmark blend of fun, accessibility, and challenge to a new generation.
Connected to a global network: the Primary Kangaroo links UK students to the international Kangaroo mathematics movement
Competition Details
The Primary Kangaroo is a 20-question multiple-choice paper completed in 45 minutes, aimed at students in:
England and Wales: Year 5/6 or below
Scotland: P6/P7 or below
Northern Ireland: P6/P7 or below
The problems combine fun and accessible challenges with just the right amount of difficulty to inspire a love of maths. Question papers are delivered in colour directly to schools — a deliberate choice to make the competition visually engaging for younger students. As with all UKMT competitions, it is now paper-format only.
Colourful, engaging, and age-appropriate: the Primary Kangaroo is designed to make mathematics joyful for young learners
Key Dates for 2026–27
18 February 2027 — Deadline for Braille/Large Print paper orders
25 February 2027 — Entries close
4 March 2027 — Answer sheets available for download
18–25 March 2027 — Competition window (schools choose a date within this period)
Priced at just £10 per 10 students (sold in packs), the Primary Kangaroo is one of the most affordable mathematics enrichment opportunities available to UK schools.
City of Maths Leeds 2026–27: A Mathematical Revolution
In a landmark initiative, UKMT has partnered with the City of Maths Leeds 26–27 Celebrations — a two-year celebration of patterns, puzzles, and play for ALL kinds of people — to offer 30 FREE entries to every primary school in Leeds for the Primary Kangaroo 2026.
City of Maths Leeds: a two-year mathematical revolution that puts Leeds at the centre of UK mathematics culture
Leeds is the first city to host this maths revolution, and the initiative reflects a growing recognition that mathematical enrichment should not be limited by geography or socioeconomic status. By removing the cost barrier entirely for Leeds primary schools, UKMT and the City of Maths programme ensure that every child in the city — regardless of their school's resources — has the opportunity to experience the thrill of mathematical problem-solving.
Removing barriers: the City of Maths Leeds initiative ensures every child can access mathematical enrichment
What Is the City of Maths?
The City of Maths is a bold, city-wide celebration that transforms Leeds into a living laboratory of mathematical discovery. The programme encompasses:
School competitions — including the free Primary Kangaroo entries
Public events — mathematical art, puzzles, and interactive installations across the city
Community engagement — activities designed for families, not just students
Teacher training — professional development for educators across all phases
The City of Maths model could serve as a template for other UK cities, potentially transforming mathematical enrichment into a nationwide movement rather than a privilege available only to certain schools.
Primary Mathematics Resources (PMR): Bridging the Gap
Alongside the Primary Kangaroo competition, UKMT has developed the Primary Mathematics Resources (PMR) programme — a comprehensive suite of materials designed to bridge the transition between primary and secondary mathematics education.
A Programme Built by Teachers, for Teachers
The PMR were launched by a team of primary teachers and UKMT volunteers, ensuring that the materials are grounded in classroom reality. They are designed for secondary schools to use with their feeder primary schools, providing three key functions:
Run competitions for local primary schools in a format similar to UKMT's Team Maths Challenges
Provide resources for taster days, master classes, and transition days
Give support and confidence to students early in their first year of secondary school
Teacher-led design: the PMR are grounded in real classroom experience and aligned with the national curriculum
What's Included in the 2026 Materials?
The PMR materials are suitable for use with primary children (Year 6 in England and Wales, P7 in Scotland, or Year 7 in Northern Ireland) and are consistent with the National Curriculum in England and the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. The 2026 resources include:
Investigative tasks — Open-ended problems that encourage mathematical exploration
Competition rounds — Including Crossnumber, Group, Logic, Make a Number, Relay, and Shuttle rounds
Mathematical craft and practical activities — New additions for 2026 that bring hands-on creativity into mathematics
Accessing the PMR
Schools must be UKMT registered centres to access the Primary Mathematics Resources. Once registered, materials can be downloaded from the 'Documents' section of the school's Competition Profile. The 2026 materials are available to download now.
Sponsored by XTX Markets
The PMR programme is sponsored by XTX Markets, one of the leading funders of mathematics education in the UK. This corporate partnership ensures that the resources remain freely available to all registered UKMT centres, removing financial barriers to access.
A recent UKMT primary mathematics event in 2026 — the programme continues to grow and reach more schools
The Impact Numbers: UKMT's Reach in 2026
To understand the scale of UKMT's primary expansion, consider these latest impact figures from the Trust:
650K+
young people take part in UKMT maths challenges each year
850K+
people visit the UKMT website each year for maths resources
500+
volunteers deliver UKMT challenges and enrichment programmes
These numbers are remarkable for a registered charity with a small professional team. They are made possible by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers and the trust that thousands of schools place in UKMT's programmes year after year.
500 volunteers and growing: the people who make UKMT's ambitious vision a reality
Why Primary Matters: The Case for Early Mathematical Enrichment
Research consistently shows that attitudes towards mathematics are formed in primary school. Children who experience maths as joyful, creative, and accessible in their early years are far more likely to pursue the subject at higher levels. Conversely, those who develop anxiety or disengagement before age 11 often struggle to reconnect with mathematics throughout their education.
Attitudes towards maths are formed in primary school — UKMT's primary programme intervenes at the critical moment
By entering the primary space with the Kangaroo competition and the PMR programme, UKMT is intervening at exactly the right moment — before negative attitudes can take root, and when children's natural curiosity about patterns, puzzles, and problem-solving is at its peak.
A Seamless Journey from Primary to Secondary
The Primary Kangaroo also creates a natural feeder pathway into UKMT's junior competitions. Students who discover their love of mathematical problem-solving through the Primary Kangaroo in Years 5–6 can continue their journey through the Junior Mathematical Challenge in Year 7–8, and onwards through the entire UKMT competition structure. This creates a continuous mathematical journey from age 9 through to the International Mathematical Olympiad.
A continuous journey: from Primary Kangaroo at age 9 to the IMO at age 18 — UKMT is there every step of the way
How to Get Your School Involved
If you are a primary school teacher or leader, here is how you can bring UKMT's programmes to your students:
- Register as a UKMT centre — Visit ukmt.org.uk to sign up your school. Registration is free and open to all UK schools, Crown Dependencies, and British International Schools.
- Purchase Primary Kangaroo entries — At just £10 per 10 students, the competition is accessible to every school budget. Leeds primary schools can apply for 30 free entries.
- Download PMR materials — Once registered, access the full suite of Primary Mathematics Resources from your Competition Profile.
- Share the experience — Talk to your feeder secondary schools about running joint primary maths events using the PMR resources.
