St John’s summer school encourages girls to consider studying maths at Cambridge
“It’s incredibly important to us to provide these opportunities to students from a wide range of backgrounds”
Teenage girls have taken part in a free residential camp at St John’s College to find out what it would be like to study Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
The Women in Mathematics programme, which is now in its second year at St John’s, was set up to encourage more female A-Level and equivalent students to consider applying to Cambridge to read maths.
Twenty-four gifted young mathematicians took part in the summer school, which was held from 11-17 August 2024 and was fully-funded by alumni donations.
The Year 12 girls came from sixth-form colleges and schools in every country in the UK. During their stay they attended Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) workshops and taster lectures delivered by Cambridge academics and guest speakers, exploring a range of mathematical topics.
The students also worked on maths problems and group research projects, and enjoyed social activities led by current St John’s students, including a quiz, movie night, punting trip, and a visit to the College’s Old Library and Combination Room.
Dr Jack Smith, Director of Studies in Pure Mathematics and a Fellow of St John’s, said: “It's been fantastic to have such a talented and enthusiastic group of young female mathematicians at St John’s for a week. They have grappled with some really exciting and challenging mathematics in taster lectures, Cambridge-style supervisions, and project work, and have experienced life at St John’s with punting trips, a formal dinner, and tours of some of the College’s historic treasures.
“It’s incredibly important to us to provide these opportunities to students from a wide range of backgrounds, to ensure that we continue to attract the very best undergraduates to study here.”
The residential programme was open to students in Year 12 or equivalent who are prospective undergraduate applicants for Cambridge this year, and are expected to achieve A* in their Maths and Further Maths A-Levels, or equivalent.
Elsie Linley, Schools Liaison and Access Officer at St John’s, said 17 of the 18 participants who responded to a feedback survey ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that attending the residential made them more confident about applying to Cambridge and St John’s.
Another prospective applicant described the visit as ‘fantastic’, adding: “The fact that the residential is essentially free is phenomenal, as it provides an opportunity for people with backgrounds that would not usually be able to attend.”
Find out more about studying Mathematics at St John’s College
Published 28/8/2024