All Adds Up For SATRO’s Annual Maths Challenge

Published on: 14 Mar, 2017
Updated on: 14 Mar, 2017

SATRO hosted its popular annual Maths Challenge at St Peter’s School in Merrow.

The after-school event was aimed at sixth-form students from schools around Surrey and neighbouring counties, and challenged them to tackle mathematical problems, including concepts taught at AS level, as well as at degree level.

In addition to the challenge element, students were treated to a career insights segment, which included talks from professionals highlighting their career progressions through studying maths.

Students were shown that various career paths are opened up by studying maths, which can range from being an entrepreneur to a patent attorney.

Students work on the challenge.

Charterhouse School in Godalming came first in the challenge, in second place was ACS International School in Cobham and Hurtwood House in Dorking came third.

SATRO is a not-for-profit educational charity which provides valuable activities for young people in Surrey. The event was sponsored by Surrey County Councillor Keith Taylor and The Institute of Mathematics and its applications.

SATRO provides real-life experience of all aspects of the working world, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) through a diverse and challenging range of programmes and works closely with schools, businesses and volunteers to inspire young people and fuel their passion and enthusiasm for their future careers.

Cllr Keith Taylor, who sponsored the event; the Mayor of Guildford, Gordon Jackson; Cllr Nikki Nelson Smith and SATRO trustee Nigel Downey.

Less than 20% of students continue the study of mathematics beyond the age of 16. This comes at a time when findings from the Economic & Social Research Council report that at age 14, students today have less mathematical understanding than students in the 1970s.

Nevertheless, 85% of students who attended the SATRO Maths Challenge said they were more interested in studying maths at a high level as a result of participating, with 85% saying they had increased their understanding of how maths might be useful in a career.

To find out more about SATRO, visit www.satro.org.uk.