Top-performing students from specialist maths schools across England are increasingly opting for degree apprenticeships over traditional university courses this autumn. These new pathways combine academic study with paid employment, offering students professional experience alongside their degrees.

Over the past decade, nine specialist maths sixth forms have opened, linked to leading institutions such as Exeter and Cambridge. These schools, which span the country, consistently deliver the highest A-level grades among state sixth forms in their regions. In 2026, the number of students taking maths A-levels in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland reached 115,000, with a notable rise in top grades.

While many maths school alumni continue to attend selective universities, a significant number are choosing degree apprenticeships with leading companies in engineering and finance. One such example is Katharina Papanca, 18, who commuted two hours each way to Surrey Maths School from southeast London. After earning A*s in mathematics, computer science, and physics, as well as an A in further mathematics, she declined offers from University College London and King’s College London. Instead, Papanca will join the Dyson Institute on a company-sponsored degree program where she will earn a salary of £23,500 in her first year and face no tuition fees. The program combines two days of study and three days of work per week, with students joining professional teams after initial training.

Papanca explained that while university routes could lead to a career in computing, the apprenticeship offered four years of professional experience alongside a degree, all without tuition debt.

Similarly, Iona Fielding, who traveled over an hour from near Blackpool to attend Lancaster University School of Mathematics, chose a five-year aerospace engineering degree apprenticeship with BAE Systems. She declined an aeronautical engineering offer from Durham University, citing the value of on-the-job professional experience that traditional university study might lack.

Himani Nandha, 18, from King’s Maths School—the first of its kind established in 2016—also opted for a degree apprenticeship over university. Achieving three A*s, she turned down offers from Warwick and Imperial College London to join Deutsche Bank’s apprenticeship program. Nandha emphasized that the combination of accelerated career progression and avoidance of university debt made the apprenticeship pathway the right choice for her.

Sir Ian Bauckham, head of Ofqual, described the country as becoming a “maths powerhouse,” reflecting the growing interest and achievement in the subject. Dan Abramson, chief executive of U-maths, the umbrella organization for maths schools, highlighted the high demand for these schools, their strong academic results, and varied progression routes available to students.

These trends suggest an evolving landscape in maths education, with students weighing the benefits of practical work experience and financial incentives alongside traditional university degrees.