James Bond wannabes have been set a festive brainteaser by the UK’s spy agency GCHQ. The puzzle, which features on the Christmas card sent by the director of Cheltenham-based GCHQ Sir Jeremy Fleming to his contacts around the world, is aimed at testing not only schoolchildren’s knowledge of key subjects but also their ability to work as a team.
A GCHQ spokesman said the Christmas challenge was designed to test problem-solving skills as well as inspire an interest in Stem subjects. He said: "The puzzle, masterminded by a team of the agency’s in-house puzzlers, features on Director GCHQ’s Christmas card.
"The card is sent to partners in the UK and around the world who work with the intelligence, cyber and security agency to counter threats, including hostile state activity, terror groups and organised crime gangs. Secondary school classes across the country will need to work as a team to crack the Christmas challenge, featuring seven fiendish puzzles.
