The Woking Way Advanced Maths Programme
Woking College Advanced Maths Programme
The Woking College Advanced Maths Programme is open to students studying A-Level Further Maths. The purpose of the programme is to provide the most-able and curious mathematicians with opportunities to further develop their problem-solving skills, be exposed to areas of mathematics beyond the curriculum and to prepare for a variety of assessments and competitions.
At the beginning of Year 12, students work collaboratively to prepare for the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge, which is sat in October. In 2024, 84% of Woking College participants achieved at least Bronze, with 14 students attaining Gold. In addition to this, one student scored a perfect 125 out of 125 – one of only a handful of students in the country to do so. Regularly, Woking College students qualify for the British Mathematical Olympiad and perform admirably. Students also get another opportunity to sit the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge in Year 13, where they are eager to achieve back-to-back Golds!
Throughout the year, the Advanced Maths Programme exposes students to challenging questions based on what they have been studying in their lessons. These are usually questions that go beyond the scope of the A-Level specification and allow students to delve into previously unseen concepts. These problems are based on STEP, MAT and AEA questions, which are the entrance assessments for mathematics and related degrees at Oxford and Cambridge. These assessments are predominantly focused on mathematics. In recent years, numerous Woking College Alumni have gone on to study mathematics and other related degrees at Oxford and Cambridge.
In February, students start preparing for the Mathworks Mathematical Modelling Challenge. This is a gruelling 14-hour international team competition, where students have to utilise their maths knowledge to build mathematical models and write a professional report based on the social issue raised in the question. In previous years this has been around social housing provision, e-bike sales and remote working.
Towards the end of Year 12, the Advanced Maths Programme offers students support in achieving an A* in the A-Level Maths exam by modelling and assessing students on the most obscure questions from the A-Level curriculum. This supplements the already high challenge that exists in regular lessons.
When students are in Year 13, they are given individualised support to best prepare them for admissions assessments if applicable. This is undertaken in conjunction with the Woking College Excellence Programme, where students are given mock assessments and interviews to best support them in applying for Oxford or Cambridge.
At Woking College, we passionately believe that maths is for everyone. Therefore, the Advanced Maths Programme supports female and non-binary students in pursuing mathematics through affording students the opportunity to participate in the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, as well as running trips to conferences delivered by the AMSP.
Sessions take place at lunchtime on a weekly basis.
Underlying the Woking College Advanced Maths Programme is the principle of developing strong and creative mathematicians, who have all the required skills to make the next step in their education, wherever they wish to go next. And we have some good mathematical fun along the way…
