Young Mathematicians Summer School
The Young Mathematicians Summer School is a two-day course built around puzzles, games, and mathematical challenges for students who enjoy maths and want to explore it in a playful, adventurous way.
Working in small teams, students take part in a series of mathematical missions. Along the way they crack codes, solve paradoxes, uncover hidden patterns, and tackle collaborative challenges that use mathematics to escape locked rooms and unravel mysteries. The emphasis throughout is on curiosity, teamwork, and the satisfaction of figuring things out together.
Rather than following the school syllabus, the course explores more unusual areas of mathematics for this age group – including cryptography, topology, game theory, number systems, and infinity. Problems are designed to be approachable but deep, rewarding persistence and creative thinking rather than speed or memorisation.
See a detailed outline for the Young Mathematicians Summer School.
The course runs online over two days, with groups of around 10–12 students. Sessions are highly interactive and puzzle-led, with tutors guiding discussion and supporting teams as they work through challenges together. Students spend most of their time actively problem-solving in breakout groups, using shared whiteboards and collaborative tools.
This course is designed for bright students aged 12–14 who have completed at least Year 8 and enjoy being challenged. It offers a chance to experience mathematics as a lively, imaginative subject – one where ideas can be strange, surprising, and genuinely fun.
The mathematics tutor team is friendly, experienced at working with younger students, and will ensure that everyone feels confident and comfortable in participating. You can see our tutors page for some example profiles.
For full booking and practical details scroll down.
A two-day course built around puzzles, games, and mathematical missions for students who enjoy maths and want to explore it in a playful, adventurous way.
Students work in small teams to tackle a series of challenges – cracking codes, solving paradoxes, uncovering hidden patterns, and using mathematics to escape locked rooms and unravel mysteries. The emphasis is on collaboration, curiosity, and the fun of figuring things out together.
Rather than following the school syllabus, the course explores unusual areas of mathematics such as cryptography, topology, game theory, number systems, and infinity. Problems are designed to be approachable but deep, rewarding creative thinking rather than memorisation.
This course is for bright students who have completed at least Year 8 and enjoy being challenged – and who like their maths a little strange, surprising, and fun.
What will students work on?
Students work in small teams on a series of puzzle-based mathematical missions, guided by expert tutors. Across the two days they explore ideas from beyond the school syllabus, through collaborative problem-solving and games.
🔐 Cracking codes – classic ciphers, hidden patterns, and encrypted messages
🎲 Paradoxes & probability – counterintuitive problems that challenge intuition
🔢 Unusual number systems – new ways of counting and representing numbers
🌀 Impossible shapes & networks – surfaces, connections, and surprising geometry
♟️ Games & strategies – logical traps and winning strategies
The course builds towards a final team challenge, where students bring together ideas from across the programme to solve a larger mathematical puzzle.
See a detailed outline for the Young Mathematicians Summer School.
How is the course run?
The course runs online over two days, with students working in small groups of around 10–12. Sessions are highly interactive and puzzle-led, with plenty of teamwork, discussion, and guided problem-solving.
The mathematics tutor team is friendly, experienced at working with younger students, and will ensure that everyone feels confident and comfortable in participating. You can see our tutors page for some example profiles.
For full booking and practical details scroll down.
🎯 Perfect for students who:
✔ Enjoy mathematics and like being challenged in new ways
✔ Are developing strong problem-solving and logical reasoning skills
✔ Enjoy tackling unfamiliar problems and thinking things through carefully
✔ Work well in small groups and like collaborating with others
✔ Are curious, resilient, and willing to persist with tricky ideas
✔ Enjoy learning through puzzles, games, and exploration rather than memorisation
In a world increasingly shaped by data, algorithms, and complex systems, mathematical thinking is a powerful way of understanding and navigating uncertainty. The Young Mathematicians Summer School gives students the chance to experience mathematics as a creative, exploratory discipline – one built around problem-solving, collaboration, and curiosity rather than memorisation or routine practice.
This course is for students who want to step beyond the classroom and engage with mathematics in a more playful and challenging way. Working in small teams, they tackle unfamiliar problems, crack codes, test strategies, and explore surprising ideas from across the subject. Along the way, students develop confidence in their reasoning, resilience when problems don’t yield immediately, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly – all while discovering that mathematics can be strange, inventive, and genuinely fun.
Young Mathematicians Summer School Practical Details
📅 Course Dates: The Young Mathematicians Summer School will take place on the 6th – 7th August (fully booked – join the waiting list here), and repeated on the 27th – 28th August (places available).
🎓 Who is this for? This course is suitable for students aged 12 – 14 who have completed at least Year 8 (or equivalent) mathematics and who enjoy being challenged by unfamiliar mathematical problems.
⏰ Teaching Hours: The course runs for two days, with live sessions from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm each day, including a lunch break.
💻 Course Format: This is a live online event, held in small seminar groups for fully interactive discussions and debate. Sessions will not be recorded, so students must be available during the scheduled hours and have a reliable audio and video internet connection.
💰 Course Fee: £125
🔒 Booking: Secure your place with a 25% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the course starts. [See full booking terms and conditions here.]
📞 Questions? Call us on 0800 810 1058 or email [email protected].