What is the Millennium Mathematics Project?

The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP) is a maths education and outreach initiative for ages 3 to 19 and the general public. The MMP is a collaboration between the Faculties of Mathematics and Education at the University of Cambridge, and is active nationally and internationally. Our focus is on increasing mathematical understanding, confidence and enjoyment, developing problem-solving skills, and promoting creative and imaginative approaches to maths.

The project consists of a family of complementary programmes, including the very successful NRICH website, Plus online mathematics magazine, and face-to-face work with schools and the public. In the 2021/22 school year our web-based mathematical resources attracted over 9.5 million visits from users worldwide and around 30 million page views, while over 13,000 school students and more than 2,900 teachers were involved in our face-to-face activities and online webinars and events.

Image: Student working on NRICH activity. (c) University of Cambridge / Nadia Baker

NRICH

The NRICH website publishes thousands of free resources designed to challenge, inspire and engage ages 3 to 19. Teachers' resources support planning and help teachers promote rich mathematical thinking in the classroom. NRICH resources focus on problem-solving and take a low-threshold high-ceiling approach, building students' confidence, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and ability to take the initiative.

Plus postcard

Plus

Plus is a free online maths magazine aimed at the interested and intelligent general reader, including older students (16+). Lively, accessible and in-depth articles and podcasts explore all aspects of maths, ranging from what string theory predicts about hidden dimensions to mathematics in medicine. Meanwhile news items uncover the hidden maths behind media headlines and report news from the world of research.


Image: University of Cambridge

STEP Support Programme

Our free online STEP Support Programme helps potential university applicants develop their advanced problem-solving skills and prepare for STEP Mathematics exams, which form part of conditional offers for Mathematics at a number of universities including Cambridge. The programme includes a course of online modules for individual study, and the resources are free and open to everyone.


Related activities include:

  • hosting the East of England Advanced Mathematics Support Programme - teaching, support and promotion of maths beyond GCSE, especially Maths and Further Maths A-level
  • Mathematics events for schools, families and the public, both online and in-person, and teacher professional development.
  • the STIMULUS programme, which creates over 250 placements each year for Cambridge student volunteers in local schools to assist with maths and science classes.

The MMP’s various programmes have won many awards and our resources have been repeatedly commended by the UK Government’s Department for Education. In 2006 the Queen presented the project with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, honouring ‘outstanding achievement and excellence’ at world-class level.  

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