On World Maths Day, 6 March 2013, 175 AS-level students stayed behind after school to take part in the Surrey Schools Maths Challenge. The challenge is run by SATRO, the education charity, and this is the 11th year it has taken place. Held at the University of Surrey in Guildford, the teams from 35 schools tackle maths problems set and marked by university staff.
Working against the clock, the students have to quickly decide how to share out the questions. The overall aim of the event is to encourage students to continue their maths studies at university. The challenge makes maths fun and interesting whilst developing personal skills such as leadership, team working and timekeeping.
While the teams’ efforts were being marked, Professor Mark Roberts gave the students an insight into what it is like to study maths as a degree. He explained how it differs from maths at A-level and took them through a typical problem. He also described some of the career opportunities for maths graduates. Lecturer Jock McOrist then took over and related his path from surf-loving high school in Australia via Sydney and Cambridge to Guildford.
There is a recognised need (and economic benefit) in raising the number of young people studying maths in Higher Education both in Surrey and across the country. Having identified a reduction in local applicants, the University of Surrey also wants more students to consider studying maths at the University and aims to encourage this through making the students more aware of the University, its campus and location.
As 17 year-olds, the AS students will soon be considering their future plans, whether to go to university and what to study. The challenge is timed to stimulate them and raise their awareness at this key stage in their schooling.
Asked about the challenge, 55% of the students said that as a result they were more interested in studying maths at a higher level. Top scorers on the night were the team from Reigate Grammar School.
