Maths Master Classes
The Maths Department provide a series of masterclasses for year 5 pupils attending local primary schools.
Aims
The aim of these sessions was four-fold:
1) To inspire year 5 pupils mathematically, giving pupils the opportunity to experience unusual and challenging problems.
2) To build working relationships with local primary schools.
3) To demonstrate the department’s mathematical strengths and to establish it as a leading mathematical educator in the area.
4) To give pupils, parents and their schools an insight into Truro School.
In order for the classes to be a success, engagement from local primaries in advertising the events, and a positive response from students was essential. Immediately following the event, feedback was sought from both students and their respective schools.
It is intended that attending students will benefit from the first-hand experience, and that they will take ideas home to families as well as their primary schools.
Background
The Director of Admissions and the Head of Marketing have been instrumental in engaging local primaries and organising students to attend. As such, the classes proved immensely popular, with all three sessions fully booked in 2019. 24 students attended each. The communication with primary schools has been excellent and has paved the way for future events.
Although only beginning in the Spring of 2019, two follow up sessions took place in the Autumn of 2019 for similar students in year 6, some of whom attended as year 5s.
Resources
Sessions have been held in the computer suite on the maths corridor at Truro School. The Sir Ben Ainslie Sports Centre is used for drop off and collection, and 4 members of the Maths Department have facilitated sessions to date. Catering staff have provided refreshments between two 50 minute episodes on each of the Saturday mornings.
Impact
Following each session, feedback has been sought from pupils as well as their respective primaries. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. One less able student with some specific learning difficulties was accompanied by an assistant, who commented that the sessions was made very accessible and that he was encouraged to engage in the session. Another student began the first session by saying that he couldn’t commit to the proceeding two sessions due to Saturday morning tennis, but left the session saying that he would be coming to the Maths Masterclass instead. Each session was full, with many students returning to complete all three sessions.
Pupil Involvement
Students attended from Perranporth, Penponds, Falmouth Primary, Threemilestone, Probus, Cusgarne, Charlestown, Constantine, Newquay Junior, St Agnes, Summercourt and Mabe. Many returned for all three of the sessions, and then again to the year 6 follow up sessions in the Autumn of 2020.
Frequency
This is now established as a yearly programme of events, with the 2020 schedule beginning this term. Each session runs from 9.30am to 11.30, with time for refreshments, with three sessions booked each Spring term.