weeks in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. Key skills required here are the ability to quickly spot efficient methods for solving unseen problems, being able to carry out accurate calculations very quickly and sometimes mentally, and again to work as a team. In recent years our team has reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Every four months the Mathematical Gazette sets problems for senior pupils around the country and invites submission of solutions. Prizes are awarded for those considered the most elegant and impressive and in the last two years five Dulwich College Upper School pupils have been awarded first and second prizes. The Mathematics Department also runs our own termly Middle School competition and Christmaths Lower School competition in December: both very popular with our pupils. At the end of last year, around thirty Year 9 pupils had three days of trips to the Bank of England, British Museum, Bletchley Park and the London Eye. ‘The maths department at Dulwich College offers a plethora of alternative ways to engage with maths beyond the A Level curriculum. For instance, I have been the senior editor of the Mathematics magazine, DC Mathematica. Similarly, being able to take Abstract Problem Solving and Relativity and Quantum Theory for A Level Plus last year was beneficial as I got the opportunity to see maths in a more formal light and learn about some undergraduate topics such as Linear Algebra. At the start of Year 12, I wanted to spread my passion to others and was determined to found the Fun Maths Problem Solving Society. Now the society has been active for over a year and runs weekly.’ Boris, Year 13
Year 9 at Bletchley Park.
The Mathematics Society encompasses a wide range of events. Last year visiting speakers included Rob Eastaway a renowned author and speaker on popular Mathematics who gave a talk on Mathematics and Intuition and Alex Teytelboym (OA) who is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford who spoke about a well-known theorem in Game Theory. In addition to this teachers from the department offer talks on areas of mathematical interest to them and pupils in the Upper School have the opportunity to present to other interested students on mathematical topics of their choice. The latter have ranged from proving results in Number Theory and Group Theory to more applied areas of Mathematics. For pupils applying to read Mathematics at university and potentially having to attend interview, this experience can help them to see the importance of clear verbal communication of Mathematics. The Society also produces an annual publication, DC Mathematica , with articles on a range of topics by pupils from all year groups. Students help to edit this publication but in other areas they take the lead. Boris, a Year 13 pupil, for instance, last year set up The Fun Maths Problem Solving Society and in addition showed the initiative to organise as a charity event a Foundation Schools Mathematics competition.
Year 9 at The London Eye.
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