This week, pupils across the school have been developing and showcasing their mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding in a multitude of creative ways. It was wonderful to walk around school and see the children communicating their ideas, solving problems, explaining their thinking - and having so much fun!

Our youngest children listened to stories told by real-life mathematicians and worked together to solve problems using Numicon. Children in Year 2 posed their own problems and put me to the test, with questions such as: 

‘There are six puppies in a room. 5 more come in. How many paws were there altogether?’

Luckily, I was able to use my skills to answer correctly and earn my sticker!

Year 4 linked their maths lessons this week to the book Lemonade for Sale by Stuart J. Murphy, with wonderful real-life problem-solving activities. In Years 5 and 6, the girls participated in live mathematical webinars which blended productive struggle with competition and fitness! A highlight was the Join the Dots webinar run by Vicky Neale, lecturer at the Mathematical Institute and Balliol College, University of Oxford; focusing on creating parabolic curves! We ended the week in Year 6 with an Escape Room, the Bullion Heist, in which girls had to solve mathematical puzzles to crack a coded message. This was challenging. 

And it doesn’t stop there! Girls also took part in The Bebras Computing Challenge this week, which introduces computational and logical thinking to students. Next week, girls in Years 5 and 6 will sit the Primary Mathematics Challenge UK – a competition set at an advanced level - with our highest attaining mathematicians entered into the national competition. Good luck and watch this space!

Thank you to all the teachers and pupils for taking part in this week with such enthusiasm - it was a wonderful way to celebrate Maths!

Mrs Johnson
Director of Studies and Assessment Co-ordinator