Selection of Students

Selection is on the basis of mathematical achievement and potential, insofar as this can be assessed. Mathematics competitions are a valuable source of information for selection, but other criteria are also used, since mathematical ability is more complicated to measure than by complete reliance on any one indicator. Students normally participate at the end of Year 11, though each year around 10 to 12 students are invited to return for a second year, both to further their own mathematical development and to assist in the educational program of the school. The Director reserves the right not to accept students who are either much younger or much older than the Year 11 cohort.

No account is taken of sex, race, type of school attended or likely future specialisation or career in the selection of students, though the Director may on occasion limit numbers of students from any one school. The NMSS has never aimed actively to persuade students that a career in mathematics is more desirable or worthy than careers in other fields. It has operated in the certain belief that exposing these students to mathematics at an advanced level is of value in all scientific and cultural endeavours. Indeed, students from the NMSS have gone on to careers in the arts, in law, in medicine and all branches of science and engineering and in industry.

Of course, a significant number have gone on to research in mathematics at the highest level, both here and abroad, but this is a natural consequence of their special ability and interest in the subject.