Rossall Students Tackle the GCHQ Christmas Card Puzzle

This week, students from KS3 to KS5 took part in the annual GCHQ Christmas Card Puzzle, an exciting event that brings together code-breaking, teamwork and plenty of logical thinking. Designed each year by the United Kingdom's intelligence and cyber security agency, the challenge presented our pupils with a festive mix of cryptic ciphers, patterns and lateral-thinking problems.

Classes worked in teams to decode hidden messages, identify mathematical structures and test a range of problem-solving strategies. It was inspiring to see students encouraging one another, combining their strengths and discovering the power of collaborative learning. From substitution ciphers to visual logic puzzles, the activity stretched reasoning skills and sparked friendly competition across year groups.

A special mention goes to Erin, Aghan, Rio, Carlos and Zach in Year 13 for their leadership and enthusiasm throughout the challenge.

Well done to all students who took part for your perseverance, creativity and curiosity. We look forward to taking on next year's puzzle and are already excited for what 2026 will bring.

Parents and students who would like to explore the challenge further can download the cards here:
https://www.gchq.gov.uk/files/gchq%20christmas%20challenge%202025.pdf