Maths A-level students Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE) have taken part in an exciting and successful day at the University of Plymouth, exploring degree and career paths in mathematics. 

The group excelled in a variety of hands-on workshops, with student Willem Snowdon receiving the top score in the maths challenge and the QE whole group winning the cryptography workshop. Students also took part in a fascinating session about fluid dynamics, a branch of study concerned with the motion of liquids and gases.

At QE, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, their A Level Maths course covers both pure and applied content alongside geography topics. Year 12 and 13s study ‘The Living World and Physical Landscapes in the UK’, focusing on rivers and coasts, as well as core mathematical areas such as binomial expansion, radians, trigonometric functions and trigonometry and modelling. 

Year 13 begins with pure mathematics including parametric equations, differentiation, numerical methods, integration and vectors, followed by regression, correlation and hypothesis testing, conditional probability, moments, and forces and friction. 

A mathematics degree opens the door to a rewarding career in many sectors including science, engineering, finance, government, medicine and education. Graduates from the University of Plymouth have progressed to a wide range of interesting jobs or postgraduate study. Recent employers include KPMG, GCHQ, Lloyds Banking Group, the Met Office, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, and Siemens.

Ms Paula Smith, Headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s School said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students for the way they threw themselves into the challenges at Plymouth University. Their success in both the individual and group activities shows not only their mathematical ability but also their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Opportunities like this bring classroom learning to life and help our young people see the exciting pathways maths can open up.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“At the Ted Wragg Trust we want every student to be inspired by learning and to see the possibilities that education creates. This event at the University of Plymouth is a brilliant example of how our schools can connect students with future careers in areas as diverse as engineering, science and finance. Congratulations to the QE students for representing their school so well.”