Teenage mathematicians and their teachers were welcomed into the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Mathematical Sciences for two workshops organised by the Millennium Maths Project’s Further Mathematics Support Programme.

We’re making use of the fact that there’s a fantastic university on our doorstep to give our Year 10 students experience outside the maths classroom.

Louise Shepherd, Second in Maths Department, Cottenham Village College.

Take Maths Further!, a day for Year 10 students, aims to promote the further study of maths through fun and stretching mathematical challenges.

Students from Cottenham Village College were attending Take Maths Further! for the first time.

“The whole day has been great, really exciting,” said Ciara, currently in Year 10. “It’s helped me think about all the different ways maths can be used.

“We’re making use of the fact that there’s a fantastic university on our doorstep to give our Year 10 students experience outside the maths classroom,” said Louise Shepherd, Second in Maths Department.

“Today is a good way to encourage them to take maths further, to give it a higher priority in their A Level choices,” Louise added.

The second workshop was designed to help teachers and sixth-form students develop their problem-solving skills.

“The problem-solving days are a chance for teachers and students to work together,” explained Richard Lissaman, Programme Leader of the Further Mathematics Support Programme.

“We’re trying to get the students to become strong, independent learners with good problem solving skills. The teachers’ role today is to encourage them to engage with the problems. Everyone is working together.

“We hope that hosting the day here in the department adds to the experience – by coming into a different environment we’re showing that it’s not going to be a typical school day.”

“It’s really exciting to use these resources,” agreed Dr Caroline Skeels, Head of Mathematics at King’s, Ely.

“One of the best things about coming into the Centre for events like this is the chance for our students to meet Cambridge students, and hear them talk about the research they are doing, the problem-solving, the fun and the innovation involved in studying pure maths.

“It makes our students feel that maths is accessible, and that Cambridge is accessible.

“We just couldn’t have this opportunity anywhere else. It is simply phenomenal,” Caroline concluded.

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