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Bringing Maths to Life in the Junior School
It has been an action-packed year for Mathematics in the Junior School! While last year we explored numbers through the lens of storytelling during Maths Week, this year we turned our attention to a skill that impacts every aspect of our lives: financial literacy. The school was buzzing with the sounds of commerce and calculation during our dedicated Maths Week. With the theme of ‘Money’, our goal was to introduce the girls to the practical skills and knowledge needed to navigate money matters in the real world.
The creativity on display throughout the week was truly impressive. In Reception, our youngest mathematicians set up their very own shops, practising the fundamentals of exchange. Year 1 took it a step further with a bustling toy shop, meticulously adding coins to pay for their items. In Year 2, pupils became savvy consumers by comparing the costs of preparing a home-cooked meal versus dining at a restaurant – a lesson in value that sparked some very sophisticated debates! As the girls progressed through the year groups, the challenges grew. Year 4 tackled the responsibilities of pet ownership by calculating the lifetime costs of a furry friend, while Year 5 honed their decision-making skills by learning how to make spending choices based on a strict budget. These projects didn’t just teach arithmetic; they fostered a deep sense of financial responsibility and real-world reasoning.
To round off this exciting week, the Junior School once again joined in the national celebrations of NSPCC Number Day. Pupils took part in the popular Dress Up for Digits event, arriving in a dazzling array of Maths-themed costumes. We saw everything from part-whole models and Numberblocks to human dice. It was wonderful to see the girls use items they already had to create sustainable, imaginative outfits, all while raising money to support vital services such as the NSPCC’s ‘Speak Out, Stay Safe’ programme.
Beyond our themed weeks, a major focus this year has been encouraging pupils to explain their mathematical reasoning. We want our girls to be able to articulate not just the ‘what’, but the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ behind their answers. This has been supported by our continued use of the Power Maths programme and the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) approach. By moving from physical objects to drawings and finally to abstract symbols, we ensure that mathematical concepts are deeply rooted in understanding. This mastery-based approach allows the girls to tackle challenges with a resilient and positive attitude.
Our competitive spirit also remained high this year. In November, pupils in Years 4–6 enthusiastically participated in the Primary Mathematics Challenge (PMC), a national competition involving a variety of thought-provoking, non-routine problems. More recently, in June, pupils from Years 2 to 4 took on the First Mathematics Challenge, which is designed to stretch and inspire our younger mathematicians. From the practicalities of budgeting to the thrill of national competitions, it has been a joy to see the girls’ confidence and enthusiasm for Mathematics grow throughout the year.