Surrey Maths School at their temporary home at Kings College in Park Barn.

Suzanne and I went back to school recently – we visited this specialist maths school for 16-19 year olds, now in its second year, part of the Learning Partners Academy Trust and working in partnership with the University of Surrey. They are a centre of excellence for the delivery of mathematics and further mathematics at A level together with other STEM subjects, fostering inclusivity and diversity. They prepare students for their future pathways, be that an internship, apprenticeship or university.

It is a free school and 90% of its pupils are from state schools, the only criteria for admission being academic achievement at GCSE. The classrooms encourage collective problem solving and presentation by arranging tables in squares and the walls being covered in whiteboards to enable collaboration and for the teachers to easily see progress.

We were shown round the school by four of its pupils who clearly enjoyed the style of teaching and the ethos of the school. Their experience is soon to be greatly enhanced as the school is moving to its purpose-built new home in the centre of Guildford in the spring next year.

Co- head teachers, Sahar Shillabeer and Nora Kettleborough, embodied the  enthusiasm we saw throughout the school and they also emphasised that a large part of their work is outreach providing maths support for local primary and secondary schools as well as training for teachers. We saw this in operation as a group of Year 7’s from Kings College were having a lesson and they were clearly enjoying the experience.

I look forward o hopefully seeing them in their new home soon.