Mathematics

Ambassadors

Undergraduate ambassador scheme

The Department of Mathematics runs an Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme, in which final year students can elect to undertake ten week placements in local schools, gaining first hand experience of mathematics education. The scheme takes the form of a mentoring arrangement, working with mathematics teachers. The classes vary from key stage 2 to sixth form.

Prospective Undergraduate Ambassadors are interviewed and selected, after which they attend a training day. The students are selected carefully for their commitment and suitability for working in schools, and are given a range of responsibilities from classroom assistance to self-originated special projects.

The main aims of the scheme are:

• To help the student gain confidence in communicating their subject and to develop strong organisational and interpersonal skills that will be of benefit to them in employment and in life.
• To enable the student to understand how to address the needs of individuals and devise and develop mathematics projects and teaching methods appropriate to engage the relevant age group they are working with.
• To allow the student to act as an enthusiastic role-model for pupils interested in science and to offer them a positive experience of working with pupils and teachers.