Simon Singh Maths Masterclasses

[FreddyKrooger]

Does anyone have a DC who was nominated by their school for Simon Singh's Maths Masterclasses? Schools were allowed to nominate three children from each year group. My DC was nominated but then we got a letter saying he didn't get on the programme. We're not sure why as it was a bit vague, and he's obviously a bit disappointed. He knows some others who did get through and they're not stronger at maths, so just curious if anyone knows what the selection criteria are?

Googling tells me that it's an attempt to increase both numbers and diversity in Maths and is particularly aimed at students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Maybe your son was one of the less disadvantaged nominees?

One of the three nominations from each year group needs to be a disadvantaged child, but not the others.

The two we know (one from the year above) aren't disadvantaged - one is very much wealthier than us (£2m+ house) and the other about the same. Both are ethnic minorities, so maybe that was prioritised. It's not obvious that they'd benefit more from the programme though - one has a weekly maths tutor and the other has a parent who is a maths teacher, so relatively advantaged in that sense.

I don't mind if there are prioritised groups - it just would be nice to know what they are and if it's a case of "white kids with income £x+ need not apply". If so, we won't bother next year if nominated again.

My yr7 DD got a place for September. We are educated, reasonably high income band, and white if that helps? I didn't think she would get a place given the questions asked on the application form so was pleasantly surprised! Her school is in an area of deprivation so that may count perhaps? But I also know that she aced the online test with plenty of time to spare..

Thanks handmade. Maybe they were prioritising girls too, and you're probably right about the school location. My DC thought he'd done super well in the test too, whereas one of his friends who got in said he guessed most of the answers (and isn't very enthusiastic about taking part, which is a shame).

My son didn’t get through either although he wasn’t too bothered. I just told him to carry on doing is own research and do well in class and this doesn’t matter at all. I didn’t sign him up for the talk they had and I presume that was one of the selection criteria. He also said the test was quite hard, he did it by himself without our help so I don’t know how he did on it but I’d imagine there would have been a bit of cheating with some parents.

Thanks Stairway. They had to do the test with cameras on, so they might have been watching out for cheating.

My Dd did attend the talk they offered. For those who didn't get a place, are you signed up to the parallelogram project? They are really good for feeding an enquiring maths mind!

Yes, my DC does Parallelogram. I think his friend is planning to share some of the Masterclass homework with him too, if he sticks with it.

My DC watched the talk too. I think that was just for fun rather than part of the selection, but who knows.