Maths Schools Commuting

[patryko]

So I am not a mum, but I thought I may be able to get some good guidance from here.

Bit of context, I’m a year 11 student at the moment and I really love maths. I want to pursue maths at uni, and my dream would be becoming a student at the University of Cambridge.

With year 12 soon coming, I’ve started applying to sixth forms, and have so far applied for 3 local sixth forms but out of those there is only one I actually wouldn’t mind going to. However, one of my friends I met online recommended I should apply to a maths school. For some reference, he got accepted into Imperial College London Mathematics school but was unable to go as it was too far away. So, I looked into it, and my nearest maths school is a 75 minute drive away (Cambridge). I live in a small town in Lincolnshire. I begun my application around a month ago but I was unable to finish it as my school does not do predicted grades. Yesterday, I received my mock results (99999987), which I could then use to apply. Although the applications closed around a week ago, I emailed them asking if I could be considered still and sent them my results. They reopened the application process for me and have invited me to sit the aptitude test.

I would love to go to CMS, however I don’t know how I would commute. I’ve looked into train and its not very practical, I would have to be on a train for almost 4 hours a day. My dad cannot drive me there due to work. I was wondering if anyone here has been through a similar situation and how they did it? I’ve heard students commute from London, and I saw that a train from London to Cambridge is only 50 minutes whereas for me it would take an hour and 50 minutes. Not to mention, the train is very expensive at around £50+ a day. I know CMS offer bursarys but still. Is it even worth going to sit the aptitude test? I feel like the only way I’d even be able to go is if i relocated to Cambridge entirely or lived alone Monday-Friday.

As the parent of a year 11 child considering a maths school, we went to two open evenings last autumn. They both said they had a couple of students from up to 1hr30 away. However, we ended up discounting them because of

• such small intakes, that then lived in such a wide area so limits on potential friendships
• limited choice of A level options- maths, FM and physics were compulsory plus one other from about 3 others.
• limited past results available as the schools were so new (however the available results were good)

DC had been very keen to be in small classes with other very motivated students but in the end felt the disadvantages outweighed the advantages, and commuting played into that too.

Have you looked at the Student Room website for reviews of the CMS?

Can you afford to relocate, or to rent a room Monday-Friday? It's not usually financially possible for 16 yr olds to leave home whilst still in FE.

And also finding somewhere that would allow a 16 year old to live without an adult would not be trivial.

Have you thought about living at home and attending your preferred local college, and then doing online tutoring for further maths?

There is also the option of Royal Hospital School who have a full maths scholarship (100% of day fees) every other year for sixth form. They also have boarding. It's in the north of Essex, so may be commutable for you on a weekly basis.

https://www.royalhospitalschool.org/admissions/help-with-fees/deneumannscholarship

You might be able to find a room to let M-F with someone who sort of specialises in doing that for sixth formers – they are used to having the actual contract with the parent, generally provide breakfast and dinner, that sort of thing. It would obviously still be an expense, though, plus the cost of the train home at weekends.

There’s a Maths school in Exeter where you can board, but not sure how expensive and what bursaries there are. You can choose an additional A-level at the nearby Exeter college

Imperial maths school haven’t yet conducted interviews for next years intake. The exam was only last weekend?!

Oh this is your friend. My apologies. Good luck with your dilemma

s

Sorry for lack of clarity, hes in year 12

I forgot where, but I heard from a student at CMS that the environment is relatively normal, they do the usual sixth form things, go out, party, etc, and it's allegedly really easy to make friends.
The limited A level choices don't really bother me, I was planning on taking 4 STEM subjects regardless, or 3 STEM along with economics.
I can't really find much info about results, CMS has only been open for 2 years i believe and so has only had 1 results day. What I do know, is that they achieved 52% A* which is significantly higher than any local sixth forms near me

Exeter is a 4 hour drive for me😅

RHS is even further than Cambridge for me.

If all goes wrong, I'll just go to my local sixth form. It isn't too bad but not comparable to maths schools.

I spoke to my parents about the possibility of going to a maths school and my mum immediately proposed the idea of renting a room out, although my dad is not keen on it

If you live in Lincolnshire have you considered attending Lincoln University Technical College (UTC). This is in the middle of Lincoln City and takes students from Y10-13. As the name implies it is very heavily maths and science based but is a state school so no fees.
It would, at least, be worth taking a look at their website and going for a look round. It’s relatively new, 12 years old, so you may not have heard of it.

When are you 17? Are you in a financial position to have driving lessons and buy a car? My son is in Y13, his friend was 17 in the November of Y12 and had passed his test soon after Easter and has been driving to school since May last year 25. If you can’t go to the Maths School you will stil do well wherever you go.

Do remember that the Maths Schools appeal to a certain candidate, who is very mathematical/science focused and motivated. The high results will be largely due to the cohort they have. It doesn't necessarily mean you will do better at a Maths School. I can see the environment is appealing, but I don't see that it is worth it, given how far away it is from where you live.

OP take a look at the new 1729 maths school opening in North London.

It's offering some full tuition and boarding bursaries. It differs from the other maths school in that intake is from 11-18YO and offers weekly boarding places.

I don't know if the first cohort will include sixth formers but the school is being bankrolled by the same person who has donated tens of millions to STEM programmes and is a sponsor of the maths school network which includes Cambridge.

My child attends Cambridge maths school and although they provide bursaries, the funding is quite limited.

Aston maths school in Birmingham might be feasible for you too.

Have you thought about a state boarding option? There are both selective and non selective schools which would offer Maths/Further Maths plus other stem options where you could board weekly and have a Maths focus.