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Primary maths camp is the right answer for numbers whizz-kids

Friday 10 July 2015

WEB Mollie and Martha from Rawdon St Peter primary

Bright young number crunchers from primary schools around Leeds got together this week to multiply their maths skills at a summer camp run by The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL).

36 pupils from 14 schools attended the three-day camp, which extended their maths knowledge to a level beyond their school year in an interactive way appropriate for the age group. The pupils, from years 4 and 5, were selected for the camp on the basis of their exceptional ability in maths.

The children spent two days at GSAL Junior School, working together on fun maths games and activities designed to develop their problem-solving skills and teamwork. The third day was spent at the University of Leeds, where the children did a maths-themed campus trail and experienced their first university lecture.

The programme was devised and led by GSAL Junior School teacher James Shepherd together with colleagues from the White Rose Maths Hub based at Trinity Academy, Halifax.

James said: “We aim to raise aspirations and attainment for more able young mathematicians across Leeds, and provide an opportunity for children of similar ability to work together. We hope to encourage them to think more logically and realise where maths can take them.”

Teaching assistant Helen Chadwick accompanied pupils from Pool-in-Wharfedale CE Primary School. She said: “It’s important for children to see the application of the maths they learn at school, and the camp has done that in a fun way. The children will share what they’ve learned with the rest of their class after the camp – if they can take this enthusiasm back to school it will really inspire the others.”

The summer camp is supported by the Department for Education’s (DfE) Independent State School Partnership (ISSP) primary curriculum project. GSAL was one of a number of schools that successfully bid for funding by submitting proposals for cross-sector projects to strengthen the teaching of subjects in Key Stage 1 and 2.

Other primary schools taking part in the camp were Rawdon St Peter’s C of E Primary School, West End Primary in Horsforth, Beeston Hill St Luke’s, Carr Manor, Kerr Mackie, Gledhow, Allerton, Brodetsky, St Peter’s C of E and Brownhill primary schools in Leeds, Fountain Primary School in Morley, Crossley Fields Junior and Infant School in Mirfield and Harewood Primary School.

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