Supporting basic numeracy in schools.
"This is the biggest and most successful programme of non-governmental maths teacher professional development in the country, and I am extremely grateful to Legal & General for continuing to support this activity."
Angela Gould Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London
A solid understanding of maths and numeracy is key to understanding and managing finances as you grow up - from student loans and mortgages to managing a budget – and the current economic climate has helped push this issue to the top of the agenda. We have supported Angela Gould from the Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London for several years in her quest to enable maths teachers to encourage future generations to understand and enjoy maths. This includes training for mathematics teachers, revitalizing teaching skills throughout careers, re-enthusing maths teachers and equipping them with skills and resources to improve student numeracy and mathematical knowledge.
Maths teaching has enormous problems both in recruitment and retention, and so it's critical that teachers receive as much practical, useful advice and ideas as is available, in useable formats. They are given materials that they have tried so feel confident in using and can take straight back into the classroom the day after the event and use with the pupils.
There is also a need to further develop teachers' aspirations for their students - teachers need to inspire students to aim higher and look further, to ensure their numeracy and financially literacy and to be more ambitious for their pupils, both in their potential career choices and in their applications to higher education.
Over 947 teachers from 707 schools attended sessions in 2009, receiving practical, useful advice and ideas in usable formats to help them feel confident in taking them back into the classroom and use with their pupils.
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