The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP) is a maths education initiative for ages 5 to 19 and the general public, based at the University of Cambridge but active nationally and internationally. We aim to support maths education and promote the development of mathematical skills and understanding, particularly through enrichment activities. More broadly, we want to help everyone share in the excitement and understand the importance of mathematics.

The project consists of a family of complementary programmes, each of which has a particular focus:

• the NRICH website - thousands of free resources designed to develop problem solving skills and subject knowledge
• the Plus website - an online magazine opening a door to the world of maths, including a careers library
• the Motivate video-conferencing programme - linking schools to professional mathematicians and scientists to engage in investigative project work
• visits to schools by the Hands-On Maths Roadshow, Enigma Project and NRICH staff
• the Cambridgeshire Further Mathematics Centre - teaching, support and promotion of Further Maths A-level
• popular mathematics lectures for schools and the general public, held in Cambridge
• the STIMULUS programme - placing Cambridge student volunteers in local schools to assist with maths and science classes

We have run hands-on activities and created live video-conference links with hundreds of primary and secondary schools all over the UK – from isolated rural schools in Wales, Cornwall and Cumbria to inner-city London, Birmingham and Belfast. In 2007 we worked with around 25,000 children through face-to-face activities and over 3,000 students via live video link. We have also worked with pupils and teachers in India, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Chile, and have linked UK schools by live video-conference to schools in South Africa, India, Singapore and Pakistan.

Our free web-based resources are used by pupils and teachers all over the world: between January and December 2007 our websites attracted over 9.6 million site visits in total, or more than 200 million hits.

The MMP’s various programmes have won many awards and our resources have been repeatedly commended by the UK Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families (formerly the Department for Education and Skills). In February 2006 the Queen presented the project with the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education (the counterpart to the Queen’s Award for Industry), honouring ‘outstanding achievement and excellence’ at world-class level.

To find out more, read on...