King's Maths School opens

King's College London Mathematics School has opened its doors to a first cohort of 68 students. The specialist school is the first of its kind: a state-funded school for mathematicians aged 16-19, selected for their enthusiasm for, as well as their attainment in, Mathematics. Through its curriculum and its outreach activities, the school will increase the number of well trained young mathematicians going on to study Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science and Engineering. It will also provide access to high quality teaching at sixth form level and has already been running an extensive GCSE enrichment programme involving over 200 students which aims to increase mathematical understanding and improve take up of both Mathematics and Further Mathematics A-levels. Dan Abramson, Headteacher, has been working for 12 months to prepare the school for opening. 'We have motivated students, inspirational staff and a wonderful space in which to learn: this is a dream combination and I'm so excited to get this project truly underway.' Students have begun their first lessons and had an inaugural lecture from Professor Konstanze Rietsch, a researcher in geometry based at King's College London. She discussed Apollonian Circles with the students, who broke into groups rooms to solve problems she posed.