Darwin Maths Evolution Course
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Register your interest for 2025
Course Introduction
Darwin Maths Evolution is an exploration of the discoveries of Charles Darwin and some of the most influential Mathematicians in history through to current day AI.
More than just the “what” of Mathematics, we will discover the “why” and the “how” of the knowledge that underpins the whole subject.
This course will encourage students to be inquisitive and investigative, allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of the language of Mathematics and logical links within it. Through studying this course at Shrewsbury, pupils’ eyes will be opened to the unity within Mathematics, preparing them for more advanced study. This, alongside team challenges and competitions, encourages pupils to develop a critical knowledge and ability to communicate mathematically.
Through classroom discussions, practical experiments, and eye-opening trips, this course is guaranteed to provide an unmatched insight into this interesting subject. Through the variety and depth of the unique methods of discovery, this course is certainly serious fun and will help to shape students’ future studies or careers in Mathematics.
The Course
This course is designed to be delivered to students between the ages of 12-15.
The course will be based in Hodgson Hall, situated prominently on the school site and overlooking the River Severn, where centuries of Salopians have been taught.
We will spend time looking at how Maths was intertwined with the story of Charles Darwin. Over time, species evolve and adapt to the ecosystem around them, but at what rate does this happen, and can we calculate the probability of certain characteristic changes permeating through the species?
Newton’s experiments changed humanity’s understanding of the world around us. Through looking at Shrewsbury’s first edition of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, we will repeat Newton’s groundbreaking experiments and come to the same conclusions that transformed the world.
Computing is currently changing the world around us at an astounding rate. Ava Lovelace is regarded by many as the Mother of modern computers; we will look at her work and then use Micro:Bit computers to demonstrate the power of computer code on a small scale. We will also spend some time looking at the power of AI and the Mathematical logic behind it.
Maths shortened WWII by over 2 years. Alan Turing, a brilliant Mathematician who studied at Cambridge and Princeton universities, design a Mathematical machine which cracked the Enigma code which the German army used to communicate through WWII.
We will look at Turing’s work and the logical process behind cracking a cipher. We will look at how Maths can allow us to optimise problems in the real world. We will use Kruskal’s, Prim’s and Dijkstra’s algorithms to design ‘ideal towns’. We will also investigate graph theory and it’s applications to designing the perfect country flag.
Throughout the course, we will be learning about high level Mathematical techniques and we will complete several challenges provided to us by the UK Mathematical Trust.
Course Overview
Performing Arts Summer School - Week 1 Example Timetable
Monday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Improv and Games Group 2: Intro to dance technique |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Intro to singing technique Group 2: Improv and games |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm |
Group 1: Intro to dance technique Group 2: Intro to singing technique |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity |
Tuesday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Building character Group 2: Dance Chorus number 1 |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Dance - Chorus number 1 Group 2: Singing - Chorus number 1 |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm |
Group 1: Singing - Chorus number 1 Group 2: Building character |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity |
Wednesday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Text work (Verse) Group 2: Dance - Chorus number 1 |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Dance - Chorus number 1 Group 2: Dance - Text work (Verse) |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm | Singing - Chorus number 2 |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity: Guest speaker on AI and Climate Change |
Thursday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 9.00pm |
Excursion 1: Stratford Trip to Stratford to include: |
Friday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Rehearse Chorus number 1 Group 2: Rehearse monologues |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Rehearse monologues Group 2: Rehearse Chorus number 1 |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm | Mini-showing (work in progress) |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity |
Saturday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 9.00pm |
Excursion 2: London Trip to London to include: |
Sunday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 9.00pm |
Excursion 2: London Sightseeing in London |
Performing Arts Summer School - Week 2 Example Timetable
Monday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Singing - small groups / solos Group 2: Dance masterclass (Birmingham Royal Ballet) |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Singing - small groups / solos Group 2: Dance masterclass |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm |
Group 1: Dance masterclass (Birmingham Royal Ballet) Group 2: Singing small groups / solos |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity |
Tuesday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Dance Chorus number 3 Group 2: Dance Chorus number 3 |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Rehearse monologues Group 2: Singing Chorus number 3 |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm |
Group 1: Dance chorus number 3 Group 2: Rehearse monologues |
| 3.00pm - 9.00pm |
Excursion 3: Birmingham Trip to Birmingham for evening performance (Rep / Hippodrome / Alexandra) |
Wednesday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 12.30pm | Acting through song masterclass (West End Performer) |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 7.00pm |
Excursion 4: Local Trip to Ironbridge |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Supper |
Thursday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am |
Group 1: Singing - all Group 2: Dance - all |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm |
Group 1: Dance - all Group 2: Singing - all |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 3.00pm | Tech rehearsal - final showcase |
| 3.00pm - 6.00pm | Afternoon activity |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Free for 1-1 rehearsals |
Friday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 10.30am | Dress rehearsal 1 - final showcase |
| 10.30am - 11.00am | Break |
| 11.00am - 12.30pm | Dress rehearsal 2 - final showcase |
| 12.30pm - 1.30pm | Lunch |
| 1.30pm - 6.00pm | Final Performance |
| 6.00pm - 7.00pm | Supper |
| 7.00pm - 9.00pm | Evening activity |
Saturday
| 7.30am - 8.30am | Breakfast |
| 9.10am - 9.00pm | Transfers and travel |
Course example timetables may be subject to change.
Course Features
On this course, through a series of engaging, practical lessons, students will be inspired by the work of Darwin, Newton, Lovelace and Turing and discover how Maths has shaped the world around us, whilst they learn about AI preparing them for further study or careers beyond learning.
Potential Excursions:
As part of this course, students may have the opportunity to visit key locations across the UK, such as:
- Bletchley Park – the home of Alan Turing’s Enigma machines, the Bombe, which cracked the Enigma Code and changed the course of World War II.
- Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
- Royal Greenwich Observatory, London
- Oxford University
- Shrewsbury and Shropshire
Activities:
Afternoon and evening activities will allow students to mix socially and enjoy fun sessions. Below is a list of examples of sessions for 2025:
- Bubble football
- BBQs
- Movie nights (some outdoors)
- Swimming
- Trampolining
- Water sports
- Local walks
- Sports – football, badminton, squash, basketball, cricket
- Trip to sports events
All of the above course features are included in the price of the course but may be subject to change.
Accommodation
Shrewsbury School has a beautiful green-hearted campus site on the banks of the River Severn within one of the most historic county towns in England.
Our Houses make for the perfect place to come back to after a day of learning. Each boarding house has a common room providing ample space for pupils to relax and unwind, study areas for them to continue their educational journey as well as social areas with televisions, games, table tennis and other activities that will allow students to bond outside of the classroom.
Boys and girls will be separated in accommodation and allocated age-appropriate rooms for their stay, with experienced pastoral care on site.
Catering
Meals at Shrewsbury are enjoyed in our purpose-built catering hall, Kingsland Hall (‘KH’), where students will choose from a wide variety of freshly prepared dishes and then eat with their friends and tutors from the courses.
Food is provided by our contract catering company Sodexo, a catering company that is committed to the provision of delicious meals that bring both ingredients and cultures to life. Students with special dietary needs such as dairy/ lactose intolerance, vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free diets and halal food can also be catered for.
