Mathematics Department achievements in 2014-15 include:
In the UK Senior Mathematics Challenge for Year 14 students, seventeen students achieved a certificate: one student achieved a Silver Award, and sixteen students achieved a Bronze Award.
In the UK Intermediate Mathematics Challenge for Year 12 students, fifty seven students achieved a certificate: one student achieved a Gold Award, eighteen students achieved a Silver Award and thirty eight students achieved a Bronze Award; and
In the UK Junior Mathematics Challenge for Year 9 students, forty nine students achieved a certificate: five students achieved a Gold Award, sixteen students achieved a Silver Award and twenty eight students achieved a Bronze Award.
The range of activities provided by the Mathematics Department in 2014-15 includes:
Year 13 Trip to University of Ulster, Jordanstown - Twenty students attended an Insight Morning at Jordanstown Campus organised by the Faculty of Computing and Engineering. The event provided an insight into maths-related careers and consisted of talks about maths courses and the current growth of attractive maths-related careers in Northern Ireland.
CEIAG STEM Teacher Placement in Industry – Mrs Monaghan was offered the opportunity to participate in a CEIAG STEM Teacher Placement in Industry. This involved a visit to NISRA (NI Statistics and Research Agency), and the Department of Finance and Personnel.
STEM in Action’ Event – The STEM conference gave teachers the opportunity to not only gain an understanding of the career opportunities and possible career pathways within STEM related businesses and industry, but also on a practical level to talk to employees from 18 businesses who are pursuing a STEM related career.
Professor Colm Mulcahy, Professor of Mathematics at Spelman College in Atlanta carried out a workshop for Year 10 students. Professor Mulcahy earned a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in mathematical science from University College, Dublin and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. For over a decade, he has been at the forefront of publishing original “mathemagical” principles and effects, particularly in his long-running bi-monthly Card Colm for the Mathematical Association of America.
Year 13 Trip to Queen’s University, Belfast – Twenty students attended a taster event at QUB School of Management. The purpose of the taster programme was to provide students with an opportunity to learn more about the Management School and the courses they offer: Accounting and Accounting with a Language, Actuarial Science and Risk Management, Business Management, Economics, Business Economics, Economics with a Language, Economics and Accounting, Economics with Finance and Finance.
QUB School of Engineering Visits St Mary’s Mathematics Department - Past pupil, Donal McGuckin, visited St Mary’s to speak to Year 13 Mathematics students along with Gemma O’Donnell (Marketing and Student Recruitment Officer at the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). The purpose of the event was to promote degree pathways in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at QUB and to highlight the current shortage of graduates in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and as a result of this, the large number of jobs on offer locally and outside of N Ireland.
