A University of Cambridge initiative raising the profile of mathematics in schools has been praised by the Government in a report about the teaching of maths to 14 to 18-year-olds.

The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP), which was set up in 1999 by the University's Mathematics and Education Faculties, was singled out as an example of best practice by the Department for Education and Skills in its report Making Mathematics Count, published last week. The document is the DfES's response to Professor Adrian Smith's inquiry into post-14 mathematics education.

The MMP is a national initiative promoting maths skills and education. Project members have visited hundreds of UK primary and secondary schools, from Aberfeldy in Perthshire to Dorset, to boost the profile of maths and encourage more youngsters to enjoy the subject; they have also run teacher training and mentoring programmes.

The project's free, web-based learning resources are now used by thousands of students and teachers across the world and have been recommended by the DfES as a means by which teachers can improve or maintain their knowledge of the subject.

The MMP includes a number of specialist initiatives:

Motivate is a free video-conferencing programme linking University of Cambridge mathematicians, physicists and engineers with UK schools, particularly those in areas of social disadvantage. The Motivate website features full transcripts and teachers' notes so that other schools and colleges can also use the material.
NRICH is a free online maths club publishing mathematics enrichment resources for students aged five to 18. It features mathematical challenges, puzzles, games and teachers' notes and also offers an online discussion and mentoring service called AskNRICH, staffed by undergraduate volunteers.
Plus is a free online magazine for students aged 15 and over and the general public. It features articles showcasing the use of maths in the real world, as well as a careers library highlighting the opportunities available to mathematicians.
STIMULUS places undergraduate volunteers in schools in Cambridge and Hackney, where they work as classroom assistants helping with maths, science and ICT. This year, 137 Cambridge undergraduates took part.
The Hands On Maths Roadshow tours schools and colleges across the UK, presenting creative ways of exploring mathematics. The Roadshow team also runs a Maths Fair during the Cambridge Science Festival in March.
Finally, the MMP holds a wide range of public lectures in Cambridge over the course of the year, attracting audiences of up to 500. Recent topics have included the mathematics behind diabetes and choosing the right marriage partner.

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