The Girls’ Day School Trust and Murray Edwards College, Cambridge are delighted to announce the launch of Choose Maths – a new academic partnership that aims to inspire students to consider Maths and Maths-related degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths at university.

Earlier this week saw the first part of the programme, a webinar titled ‘Further Maths: the superpower that takes you places’ run by the college for Year 11s and Year 12s. Twenty of our students attended, where they learned what a Cambridge Maths degree entails, and what key skills they look for. They spoke to two current Cambridge students and a fellow of the college about studying Maths. It was great to hear the university students sharing a day in their academic life.

Here’s what some of our students learned:

Kyra S, Year 11
“I enjoyed the webinar, and it solidified my decision to take Further Maths at A Level. It also helped me realise that, while school Maths focuses on how to use formulas to solve problems, University Maths is more abstract and focuses more on why formulas are true through proofs.” 

Meher G, Year 12

“The webinar was highly useful in laying out what maths at university looks like and the other subjects it is helpful for. I really enjoyed the new fact we learnt about square numbers and how they are the sum of the n-1 odd numbers before them – it was very interesting!”

Emily B, Year 11

“I really enjoyed how the webinar had all types of people to represent Maths at Cambridge, a current undergraduate, a graduated masters student and a professor. I learnt a lot about Maths at Cambridge and I especially liked when they showed the types of problems the students would be working on. I found the square numbers problem, using the addition of consecutive odd numbers, a really interesting and fun problem.”

In March there will be a Maths Immersion Day held in Cambridge for Year 12s across the GDST, who will spend a day at Murray Edwards College meeting academic staff, current students and recent alumnae. There will be opportunities to work on Maths challenges and enjoy taster sessions of academic teaching at the University of Cambridge. In addition, students will be able to tour the facilities of the College, which includes the largest collection of Art by women artists in Europe, have lunch and consider the different degree options available.

In the summer term, there will be an online session for Year 10 students considering Maths / Further Maths at A level with Cambridge academics and undergraduates.

For more information, please see  GDST Choose Maths Partnership.