A secondary school in Derby has been finding novel ways to make maths add up for its students.
Lees Brook Academy in Morely Road, Chaddesden, recently whet pupils’ appetite for the subject with a “pie for Pi challenge”. Students who could recall pi to 10 decimal places or more were rewarded with a pie. They also enjoyed some pi themed activities.
Behind the plan was Head of Mathematics at the school, Nicola Gregory, who wanted to share her passion for maths with the entire school.
“Mathematics is a fascinating and beautiful subject. During lockdown a lot of students lost their confidence with mathematics and we want to get them back on track. It is a crucial skill for their everyday lives and future career paths.”
It was not the first whacky way the staff had come up with to get students more interested in maths. Teachers also celebrated numeracy by dressing up as numbers as part of the NSPCC Number Day. Students completed mathematical challenges while raising awareness of the work the NSPCC does.
As well as encouraging an interest and love of maths, the school has also been working hard to ensure students understand and appreciate the real-world applications for what they are learning in the classroom.
Nicola Gregory said: “Quantity surveyors from GF Tomlinson have come into school to show Year 7 how the curriculum links to their roles. This was really rewarding for the students. The impact of meaningful encounters with employers cannot be overlooked.”
The mathematics department also asked parents to tell them what maths they use in their jobs.
“We were amazed by the responses,” said Mrs Gregory. “Parents were really keen to share how they use mathematics in their roles and it has allowed us to incorporate stories and scenarios into our teaching. We had nursery managers explaining how they use ratio, cybercrime detectives talking about exchange rates and physiotherapists talking about angles of movement.”
Engineers from Rolls-Royce visited the school each week during the second half of the Spring term, helping to prepare students for their upcoming examinations.
Principal Clare Watson said: “We love maths at Lees Brook Academy and our teachers want to share that passion with students. Whether its pie for Pi day or dedicated sessions with Rolls-Royce engineers, these activities all help to show pupils the fun but also the importance of maths.”
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