Pi Week 2026 brought mathematics to life across the college, with a full programme of activities designed to challenge, inspire and celebrate our students’ enthusiasm for the subject.
Led by the Mathematics and Computer Science department, the week showcased how maths can be both engaging and accessible, with students taking part in a variety of academic, creative and physical challenges.
Challenging Minds: Pi-ramid, Pi Coding and Pi-stimation
Throughout the week, students tested their problem-solving skills in the Pi-ramid Maths Challenge, working their way through increasingly complex questions. The challenge encouraged resilience, logical thinking and a willingness to take on difficult problems.
Students joined in with a Pi Coding Relay competition - with two different levels for KS4 and KS5. There were set short challenges to complete either in teams or on their own, themed around Pi. Well done to the winning team from KS5, Daniyal, James and Ayman.
In our Pi-stimation competition, students competed to recall as many digits of pi as possible. Congratulations to Toby in Year 12, who achieved an impressive 80 digits to take first place.
The Pi-athlon: Maths Meets Physical Challenge
One of the standout events of the week was the Pi-athlon, which combined physical activity with mathematical thinking. Teams used a bike, rower and SkiErg to travel as close as possible to 3.14km.
The challenge came with a twist, as students were unable to see how far they had travelled, requiring careful estimation and teamwork throughout. The winning team achieved an excellent 3.123km, an impressively close result.
Guest Lecture: Exploring Pi and Infinity
We were delighted to welcome Dr Thomas Walters for our first Guest Lecture, open to both current students and prospective applicants.
His talk on Pi and infinity provided a fascinating insight into higher-level mathematics, sparking curiosity and giving students a glimpse into the wider world of mathematical study.
Student Lectures: Exploring Mathematical Ideas
To round off the week, students attended a series of engaging talks delivered by our Maths and Computer Science department. Topics included the Mandelbrot Set, probability and the origins of pi.
The lecture hall was full, reflecting the strong interest and enthusiasm from students to explore these ideas in more depth.
A Week to Remember
Pi Week 2026 has been a brilliant example of how mathematics can be both challenging and enjoyable. The variety of activities allowed students to engage with the subject in new and memorable ways, highlighting the creativity, teamwork and curiosity that sit at the heart of mathematics.