February Half-Term Mathematics Courses 2026: Your Complete Guide
Our February half-term courses, running from 16-20 February 2026, offer a unique opportunity for intensive mathematical development. Your child can make significant progress during this focused period, whether they’re preparing for April’s Junior Maths Challenge, the Intermediate Kangaroo and Olympiad, or just developing advanced problem-solving skills, we’ve designed four courses to help them excel.
The holiday format allows for five consecutive days of focused, 45-minute sessions. Students can build momentum, develop confidence, and see genuine progress without the pressure of fitting sessions around school commitments. It’s intensive mathematical development when minds are fresh and focused.
Course Overview
All courses run daily from Monday 16th – Friday 20th February 2026, with 45-minute sessions each day. Every session will be recorded and available for at least one month after completion. This means you can catch up on anything missed, or review material as many times as needed.
Junior Maths Challenge Advanced 1: Arithmetic, Number and Algebra | 10:00 AM | Ages 11-13
For students targeting Gold and beyond
This is where we move beyond the fundamentals into the territory of the hardest JMC questions – for students aiming for Gold certificates and hoping to qualify for the follow-on Junior Kangaroo and Junior Olympiad rounds.
We’ll explore divisibility rules, number patterns, algebraic thinking, and the kind of clever arithmetic that appears in questions 16-25 of the JMC. These are the problems that separate good performances from exceptional ones.
If your child wants to push for Gold in the Junior Maths Challenge or qualification for the follow-on rounds, this course will challenge and develop them.
Junior Maths Challenge Advanced 3: Logic, Problem Solving and Counting | 11:00 AM | Ages 11-13
For students targeting Gold and beyond
This course tackles the questions that require genuine mathematical creativity – the logic puzzles, counting problems, and strategic thinking challenges that appear in the hardest sections of the JMC.
We’ll develop systematic approaches to complex logic problems, master the counting techniques that unlock combinatorics questions, and build the problem-solving strategies needed for questions 16-25. These are the skills that transform good mathematicians into exceptional ones.
If your child wants to develop the creative reasoning and strategic thinking that separates Gold certificate achievers from the rest – and qualify for Junior Kangaroo and Olympiad rounds – this course will challenge and inspire them.
Even if you didn’t take October or December’s courses, this is accessible to strong Year 7-8 students who are comfortable with basic geometry and want to develop more sophisticated spatial reasoning skills.
Intermediate : Cayley Olympiad | 1:00 PM | Ages 13-14 (Year 9 and below)
For students preparing for their first Intermediate Olympiad
The Cayley Olympiad requires a completely different skillset from the multiple-choice Intermediate Maths Challenge – full mathematical proofs, clear explanations of reasoning, and rigorous mathematical arguments that earn marks for method as well as answers.
We’ll work through Olympiad-style problems that develop proof-writing skills, strategic problem-solving techniques, and the mathematical communication needed to score well. These sessions focus on the thinking processes that separate Merit performances from Distinction level.
If your child has qualified for the Cayley (or any Intermediate Olympiad) for the first time, or achieved Merit previously and wants to push for Distinction and even the medals, this course will develop the skills they need.
P.S. Students are welcome in these classes whether or not they are taking the Olympiad if they want to experience these challenging problems. Many also come to more than one of the Kangaroo and Olympiad courses for maximum preparation.
Intermediate : Hamilton and Maclaurin Olympiad | 2:00 PM | Ages 14-16 (Years 10 + 11)
For experienced Olympiad participants targeting top performance
The Hamilton and Maclaurin Olympiads demand sophisticated mathematical reasoning and polished proof-writing skills. This course focuses on the advanced problem-solving techniques needed for Distinction-level performance and medal contention.
We’ll work through official UKMT past paper questions, analysing the mathematical thinking behind high-scoring solutions and developing the rigorous proof-writing that earns full marks. These sessions prepare you for the step up in difficulty from Cayley to the senior Olympiad rounds.
If your child is taking the Hamilton or Maclaurin Olympiads and wants to target Distinction or medal level in Hamilton or Maclaurin, this intensive course will sharpen their skills.
P.S. Students are welcome in these classes whether or not they are taking the Olympiad if they want to experience these challenging problems. Many also come to more than one of the Kangaroo and Olympiad courses for maximum preparation.
Who Teaches These Courses?
All courses will be taught personally by Dr Kevin Olding. With a first-class MMath from Magdalen College, Oxford, and a PhD in Probability and Mathematical Finance, Kevin brings deep mathematical expertise to every session. He taught at some of the UK’s most prestigious schools, including Westminster School and Dulwich College.
For four years, Kevin wrote the 11+ entrance mathematics papers for one of London’s leading independent schools, giving him unique insight into what selective schools are actually looking for. Over nearly two decades of teaching, he has worked with thousands of students at every level, from those taking their first maths challenge to those competing in international Olympiads.
His approach combines mathematical rigour with a genuine understanding of how to make complex ideas accessible and enjoyable for students of all abilities.
Building on December’s Success
If you attended our December courses, recordings of those sessions are also being made available – some are there already and the others should be available to purchase shortly from course pages. These February courses are designed to build naturally on that foundation, taking students to the next level of mathematical sophistication.
For those who missed December, don’t worry – each February course is designed to be accessible based on the level indicated, and Kevin’s teaching style ensures that all necessary background is covered as we progress.
Key Information
Recordings: All sessions are recorded and available for at least one month. If you can’t attend live, or if your child wants to review material, you’ll have full access to everything.
Age Groups: The age ranges are guidelines. Younger students who are working ahead are always welcome in higher-level courses. However, older students should stick to their age-appropriate level or higher.
Booking: You must book the complete course – individual sessions aren’t available separately. This ensures continuity and allows us to build concepts properly across the week.
Holiday Schedule: Running five consecuctive days from 16-20 February is perfect for students who want to continue 2026 with enhanced mathematical confidence.
How to Book
All bookings can be made via the button here, or see more info at the page linked here:
Questions?
If you’re unsure which course is right for your child, feel free to email hello@mathsaurus.com for guidance based on their current level and goals. You can also sign up for a webinar with Kevin here – you can join an upcoming live session or watch a replay.
The half-term holidays represent a unique opportunity for mathematical advancement. These five days of focused learning can provide the boost your child needs for upcoming challenges. Whether they’re preparing for April’s Junior Maths Challenge, the Intermediate Kangaroo and Olympiad, or just developing advanced problem-solving skills, we’ve designed four courses to help them excel.