Design-a-Mathscot Competition

Mathscot competition header

After the success of last year’s poster competition, we are excited to announce a brand new competition for 2024. Our Maths Week Scotland theme this year is ‘Maths Tales’, and you know what every good tale needs? A main character. So, we are inviting children to design a mascot for us, or as we like to call it, a Mathscot!

As before, there will be prizes in different age categories, with one overall winning design being made in to a plushie toy Mathscot that will feature prominently in this year’s Maths Week Scotland promotional campaign.

How you would like to interpret the Mathscot is up to you – it could take the form of a person, an animal, a robot, or a entirely imaginary creature. You can be as creative as you like (though do keep in mind the more complex the details, the more challenging it will be to turn the design in to a toy). Don’t forget to give your Mathscot a name!

Who can enter?

We welcome entries from any children in Scotland that fall into the following age categories:

  • Early Years: Pre School & P1
  • First Level: P2 – P4
  • Second Level: P5 – P7
  • Third/Fourth Level: S1 – S3

Entries can be by teams or individuals. Teams will be judged in the age category of the oldest team member.

Maths Week Scotland will judge the entries and select the winners. There will be one winner for each age category, including one overall winner.

What are the prizes?

The winning entry for each age category will receive a set of Maths Week Scotland badges for their class and a £20 Amazon voucher for the child. Please note, prizes are awarded per entry, so in the case of a team entry winning, the team members will need to share the prize.

The overall winner will also have their Mathscot design turned in to a plushie toy, approximately 200-300mm (8-12 inches) in size.

All winning entries will be published in a ‘winners gallery’ on the Maths Week Scotland Website and Facebook page.

How to enter

Entries must be produced on one page of A4 paper or card only, and can be in either landscape or portrait format. You will need to take a photo or scan of it to send electronically.

Work must be original and created by the child(ren), please do not use any templates.

Numbers and mathematical symbols are acceptable, but the designs should not include any other text.

Please give your Mathscot a name.

You can use art materials of your choice, but bold and bright designs will get the best results if your design is chosen to be transformed in to a plushie.

How to submit your entry

Entries must be submitted by an adult on behalf of the child(ren). As well as teachers, the competition is open to home-schooled children and, if you are a parent or guardian, you are welcome to submit your child's entry individually.

Please email a scan or photograph of your entry to info@mathsweek.scot by 6pm on Friday 1 March 2024 with the Subject Line: Mathscot Competition, including the following details (for team entries please include details of all team members):

  • Name of Mathscot
  • First name of child
  • Age of child
  • Category
  • Name of school if relevant
  • Name of town/city

Data submitted will be used for the administration of the competition only. By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions stated below.

Please hold on to your original artwork, as the winners will be required to send in their physical copies of these.

Terms & Conditions

  • Only entries from within Scotland will be accepted.
  • There will be one winner for each age category, including one overall winner.
  • Only one entry per child will be accepted. Entrants may not win more than one prize.
  • Prizes are awarded per entry, so in the case of a team entry winning, the team members will need to share the prize.
  • Entries must be original works, and not under copyright to any other person or organisation. Entries found to be in breach of these terms will be disqualified and removed from the judging process.
  • Entries must be submitted by an adult aged 18 or over on behalf of the child(ren) taking part. Entries must include first name, age and competition category as stated above, or they will not be eligible to win a prize.
  • All entries must be submitted via email to info@mathsweek.scot, as a scan or photographs of the original artwork. Entries will not be accepted via social media. Please hold on to your original artwork, as the winners will be required to send in their physical copies of these.
  • Maths Week Scotland is unable to confirm receipt of entries and takes no responsibility for entries that have failed to deliver.
  • Winners will be notified by email shortly after the closing date, and asked to provide a postal address to send their prize to. In the event of a winner not responding within five days of notification, Maths Week Scotland reserves the right to allocate the prize to another winner. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
  • Maths Week Scotland accepts no responsibility for entrants not receiving communications due to spam filters, accidental deletion, incorrect email provided, or for any other reason.
  • Maths Week Scotland accepts no responsibility for winners not receiving their prize once it has been dispatched, and in the event of this is unable to provide compensation.
  • Maths Week Scotland’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. This includes any judging that occurs.
  • Entries will be displayed on the Maths Week Scotland website and social media channels, and used for marketing and promotion of Maths Week Scotland 2024.
  • All entries must be received by 6pm on Friday 1 March 2024. Entries received after this date will not be accepted.
  • There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
  • Prizes are non-transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
  • Prizes are subject to availability.
  • Maths Week Scotland reserves the right to make edits or simplifications to the winning design if this is necessary for technical reasons when transforming the design in to a plushie.
  • Personal data submitted will be used for the administration of the competition only. Consent will be gained from the winners before publishing any personal details of the winning entries online.
  • By entering the competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions.
  • Staff members of Maths Week Scotland and their families are ineligible to enter.

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