Cracking the Enigma code was all in a day’s work for students at a St Albans secondary school.

As part of a specially-designated Maths Week, pupils at the Samuel Ryder Academy in Drakes Drive learnt code-breaking using the same Enigma machine from Bletchley Park that was used on the set of the movie The Imitation Game.

Decoding was among a number of activities during Maths Week which included mathematical theatrical performances, workshops and a whole school maths relay.

Activities kicked off with an assembly introducing the week to the students and sharing information about Alan Turing, inventor of the Enigma machine, and the links to The Imitation Game.

During the week, a number of students received mathematical achievement awards.

Head of Mathematics, Al Pisani, said: “The mathematics department has seen a good increase in results over the last three years and activities like this are just some of the many ways that we try and promote a ‘can do’ attitude towards the subject.

“It was also an opportunity for our students to have fun and enjoy mathematics in a way that is different to normal.”

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