GCHQ has released its annual Christmas challenge, with seven puzzles aimed to put the nation’s codebreaking skills to the test.
Devised by in-house puzzlers at the UK’s intelligence agency, the challenge is geared towards testing a range of skills to unlock a festive message.
This year, for the first time, extra puzzles feature on the front of the card. These were designed by three schoolchildren, after more than 500 children entered the agency’s competition to hunt down the best budding spies.
Some challenges involve codebreaking, maths and analysis, while others test skills including lateral thinking, ingenuity and perseverance – the same blend of skills GCHQ said are used every day to keep the country safe.
However “no one will find them easy”, the agency’s chief puzzler – known only as Colin – said.
The Christmas card competition tasked schoolchildren with answering the question: ‘What do you think GCHQ looks like on Christmas Day?’ as well as putting hidden codes and puzzles into their designs.
The winning designs came from Haoran, a year 8 student from Wilson’s School in London, Mariia, a year 10 student at the Henry Beaufort School in Winchester, and year 12 student Amelie from South Wilts Grammar School in Salisbury.
GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler, was one of those tasked with picking the winners. She said she hopes the challenge will “inspire the next generation to explore STEM subjects and consider the rewarding careers available in cybersecurity and intelligence”.
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This year’s Christmas cards – and challenges – are available to download from GCHQ.gov.uk.
Answers will be published by the intelligence agency at 9pm on Wednesday 10 December.
