Maths teacher Alan Taylor set pupils across the school a challenge: to see how many digits of the number Pi they could learn and remember. Within a week, 13-year-old Daniel Ramsay, an S2 pupil, was way ahead of the rest, having learnt 50 digits.

Recognising this achievement, Mr Taylor started to set Daniel regular targets to see how far he could go. Within weeks of practising at home and at lunchtimes, Daniel was ready to make an attempt at the UK school Pi memorising record. The record had stood for over three years, with an S4 pupil remembering 628 digits.

On March 4, Daniel smashed the record by remembering Pi to 701 digits, beating it by 73 numbers. The attempt took 20 minutes. “I found it a very challenging and enjoyable experience and am looking forward to breaking my own record,” Daniel said. “Mr Taylor has set me a target of 1,000 digits by the summer.”

Daniel has been confirmed as the UK schools Pi record holder. He is now in training to extend this even further.

www.madras.fife.sch.ukmathsPiRecordsnotices.html.