The perfect opportunity for aspiring young mathematicians can be found at King’s Maths School! They hold a fortnightly programme of mathematical enrichment for students in Years 9 and 10 called GCSE+ Maths – that prioritises placements for less advantaged students. The course consists of mathematical topics that will truly “surprise you, intrigue you and inspire you.” as mentioned on the King’s Maths School website. 

Tiffany Woods- Shepherd is the Director of Widening Participation and Outreach at King’s Maths School and she exclaims how the main aim of the course is to “widen participation in the mathematical sciences at university and beyond.” This encourages students that are apart of minorities or difficult living situations, such as being a young career to pursue their hobbies. Due to the lack of ethnic minorities in STEM study, as seen in the study done by The Royal Society - “In 2018/19, 18.7% of academic staff in STEM were from ethnic minority groups,” it is important to welcome younger generations into an academic world where everyone is equal, and the KCLMS GCSE+ course is the perfect example of how to achieve this. 

Not only does the course encourage diversity in the mathematical sciences but, it also performs as a community of “like- minded people,” as described by Tiffany. After the fortnightly trip from school to the King’s Maths School, based in Lambeth, students from all over London join and tackle challenging math topics, as a team – some that are even explored at university level. However, there is a determining factor that sets the KCLMS GCSE+ course apart from the rest! Whenever a student gets stuck or seeks help, the staff and wonderful sixth formers have a creative way of going around giving away the answer but instead guiding the students to it, with their own knowledge. Tiffany says it gives students the “time and space to really explore the maths, something you often don’t get in the classroom, and also allows them to try things and get them wrong, and to learn and develop as mathematicians as a result of that.” Numerous students from the GCSE+ course agree that being able to get things wrong and try again in an environment which that is encouraged, helps them understand the work better; something that some students may fear to do while in school. 

Nonetheless, Tiffany mentions that King’s Maths School aspires to increase the number of opportunities available to the “enthusiastic mathematicians” soon. She says that the school is planning to extend their “Extension Physics Programme” - a “solving group for sixth form students hoping to study physics or engineering at university” that teaches them the skills for things like the “Physics Olympiad or for the admissions tests that Oxbridge require.” Ambitious mathematicians and physicists should keep an eye out for any potential courses available at the King’s Maths School because it is evident, they offer incredible skills, knowledge and communication that is unlikely to be found elsewhere. 

The KCLMS GCSE+ course has become a key part in year 9 and 10’s fortnightly routines’; something that allows them to learn while having fun and always being kept intrigued. The course gives everyone an opportunity to nourish their liking for maths, while taking in new information to help them through their GCSEs with ease and mathematical skills. The golden opportunity to explore a world with “like-minded people” while enjoying the journey. 

 

Thank you to King’s Maths School for the KCLMS GCSE+ course and thank you to Tiffany Woods- Shepherd and Dan Abramson for taking the time to talk to me about their fantastic school! 

The Royal Society source - https://royalsociety.org/news/2021/03/stem-ethnicity-report/#:~:text=Variation%20in%20progression%20through%20STEM,Black%20and%2011.9%25%20are%20Asian.