Edith Swindells is an Assistant Headteacher and Advanced Skills Teacher with responsibility for Maths and Data.  Edith has focused on creating a positive image of maths in the eyes of students, she believes maths is fun herself and has created an environment at Hyde where students see Maths as fun too.  That environment is very ICT rich and engages with students through the use of games consoles and by relating maths to the real world.  Staffing is stable for maths at Hyde, though when staff do leave they are easily replaced due to the reputation of the department.  Indeed staff have been known to return to Hyde having once left.

Making Maths Relevant at Key Stage 4

Hyde Technology School currently run BTEC Mathematical Applications with two Year 11 groups.  The course links in to the other vocational courses followed by the students in Sport, Engineering or Travel and Tourism.  The approach has made the overall curriculum more coherent for those students and the staff involved are fully aware of the demands and requirements across the other vocational subjects.  The school is currently evaluating this initial work and the BTEC qualification could become an alternative to GCSE for students following some pathways. It is felt that students who work hard continue to develop their mathematical skills throughout Key Stage 4 and that the style of assessment encourages them to continue to work hard and not to become disillusioned.

All of the current Year 9 students have started BTEC Level 2 coursework, which they started immediately after the SATs.  They will continue with this through Key Stage 4 and it ties in closely with the functional skills requirements.

Resources used to "make maths fun!"

KS3 Maths Alive  This is a software package that schools can purchase as a complete KS3 resource or for Y7, Y8 and Y9 separately.  Maths Alive maps the national framework and provides resources for use in school and accessible from home if students have Internet access.  The product is flexible and enables schools such as Hyde Technology School  to make full use of interactive whiteboards and  tablet PCs, while providing alternative solutions if resources are more limited. Homework is integrated within the package and can be made available in paper format.

Easiteach: When Edith described this she said "if there was only one piece of software I could have, it would be this."  Available through RM, this software provides maths based worksheets and presentations that engage students.  Many schools have invested in interactive whiteboards and too often they are underutilised.  Easiteach enables all staff to acquire the skills needed to make full use of the interactive whiteboards with their students, if you have them in your classroom or department.

Nintendo DS Lite Brain Training:  At Hyde the Nintendo DS lite is used to motivate students and to encourage students to practice their mathematical skills.  A lot of work has been done on the use of games machines and mobile devices, both to motivate students and to enable students to access resources and the Internet through wireless networks. Some work on the effectiveness of such devices is available through handheldlearning.com Hyde have also pioneered the use of games consoles outside the Maths department by using the Nintendo wii with the Sports package and fitness package in PE lessons.  While it is not seen as a replacement for other types of sport and physical activity.  Early signs are that it motivates a significant number of students to take part in PE lessons who may otherwise have disengaged. The Nintendo DS Lite has also been used in English using the Academy and Word Package.

BBC article on Brain Training