Why study Mathematics? The whole development of Western civilisation ‐ its commerce, its technology, and more recently its social organisation ‐ is rooted in mathematics and in the reliability and power of its methods of analysis. This dependence on mathematics has accelerated dramatically in the last 50 years. During the Second World War mathematics was indispensable in code breaking, ballistics and planning large operations. Mathematics now controls large parts of day‐to‐day life. For example the development of the internet and all the associated activities depend on mathematics. Digital music and online shopping would be impossible without mathematics. It is therefore not surprising that Mathematics A Levels are amongst the most marketable and that a Mathematics degree is amongst the most sought after and most flexible of university courses, leading to a wide choice of careers.