Events for schools and families

The OU at Mathŵyl Cymru (December 2025)

In conjunction with the newly developed Mathŵyl Cymru (Maths Week Wales) we delivered some fun maths sessions for school pupils in Wales.  

 

Session title:  Algorithms, Codes and Prime Numbers: The Mathematics of Keeping Secrets 

Session host: Dr Andrew Potter, The Open University  

Audience: Learners in Year 5 and Year 6 

Who do you trust your secrets to? How can you be sure you can rely on them? Do you trust maths to keep your secrets? 

Modern life is full of computer systems which hold personal and sensitive data. We use them all the time – for example, when you buy something online. But how can you be sure someone won’t be able to intercept your personal details? In this session, learners discovered the surprisingly simple maths that underpins how modern cybersecurity works. They explored what an algorithm is, what makes algorithms ‘fast’ or ‘slow’, and how prime numbers hold the key to keeping secrets safe!  

 

Session title:  Magic Maths - Is it Magic or is it Maths?  

Session host: Charlotte Lighter and Kellee Patterson, The Open University 

Audience: Learners in Year 6 and Year 7 

Magic tricks to amaze your friends and family! 

But is it really magic or is it maths? The real trick here is in understanding the maths behind the ‘magic’.   

We worked with learners to challenge the idea that mathematics is impossible or that it aims to trick you! Charlotte and Kellee revealed the maths behind the mystery through exploring and “undoing” the underlying mathematics which makes these tricks possible, from looking at the structure of number to probability.   

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A big thank you to all schools and learners who took part in these sessions. We look forward to supporting Mathŵyl, in addition to the other UK Nation Maths Weeks, in 2026 and beyond.

Open University Mathematics Christmas Lecture

Each December year 12/13 classes from schools and sixth form colleges across the UK are invited to participate in an online interactive mathematics lecture.

In 2025, our very own Dr Vasiliki Evdoridou delivered the lecture "Fantastic Fractals: Maths That Looks Like Magic". 

A' Level maths students joined us on a journey through the hidden beauty of maths learning what broccoli and the coastline of Great Britain have in common and exploring intriguing patterns that can be found in nature, known as fractals. We took a closer look at the famous Mandelbrot set and discovered how to build our very own fractal Christmas tree! 

Previous lecture titles have included: "Mathematics, Chocolate and the Electric Guitar", "Boomerangs, Bouncing Balls and other Spinning Things" and "The Music of the Primes". Speakers have included Professor Marcus du Sautoy, Simon Singh and Rob Eastaway.

The Christmas lecture is held on the first Tuesday in December each year.  If you would like your school or college to participate, please contact [email protected]

Royal Institution (Ri) Mathematics Masterclasses

The Open University organises programmes of Ri secondary mathematics masterclasses.

In each series, schools are invited to nominate students from either Year 9 or 10 to participate in exciting mathematical workshops, such as: Games, Goats and Gold and Infinity: Friend or Foe? The aim of the series is to stimulate and encourage young people in the art and practice of mathematics, to develop a sense of enjoyment in the subject.

You can find out more about the Ri masterclass series here: Royal Institution (rigb.org)

We currently run masterclass programmes in and around Milton Keynes and also across Wales. Our masterclass programme in Wales is delivered jointly with the Mathematics Support Programme Wales: MSPW (furthermaths.wales)  

If you would like to register interest for students from your school to be invited to participate, please contact [email protected]

The Winton Mathematics Gallery, Science Museum, London.

From war and peace to life, death, money, trade and beauty, the objects in Mathematics: The Winton Gallery reveal how mathematics connects to every aspect of our lives. The exhibits display maths thematically, including ‘life and death’, ‘form and beauty’ and ‘trade and travel’. The bold and thought-provoking gallery, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, examines the fundamental role mathematicians, their tools and ideas have played in building the world we live in.

Find out more and plan your visit to the Winton Gallery here.

Open University academic June Barrow-Green, Professor of History of Mathematics, played a key role in the development of the new mathematics gallery at the Science Museum in London, acting on the External Advisory Board.