Wirral primary school using football and X Factor-style competition to make learning maths fun

Feb 3 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

Teacher Ryan Neal

FOOTBALL and X Factor-style competitions are making maths fun for pupils at a Wirral primary school.

Egremont Primary is one of a number of schools in the borough now using Active Maths – a way of teaching the subject using games, puzzles, songs and physical activities.

And trainee teacher Ryan Neal, who is on a placement at the school, has taken the method a step further by using football collecting cards and his version of the hit TV show – the Maths Factor.

He has set challenges for his Year 5 class including a “live show”, where pupils have to complete times tables against the clock and meet a weekly target.

“Deadlock” sees a brainteaser displayed for a week and the nine and ten year-olds asked to complete it in their own time for the chance of winning a prize.

And in the weekly “judges panel”, teachers pick the pupil who has performed well during the week or made the biggest improvement.

Their reward is to have a CD of their choice played in a lesson on a Friday.

Ryan, 25, from Tranmere, said: “Over Christmas I was trying to come up with something I could take into school. The X Factor was on all the time, so I thought I could do something with that.

“The results show it’s working. I’ve got a record of each score and I can see the improvement.

“The kids are so enthusiastic about it and there wouldn’t be the same excitement if I was sticking to worksheets.

“On a Monday morning they’re looking for the next deadlock challenge because they want to beat it.”

Ryan was inspired to use Match Attack cards to teach addition and subtraction after buying a pack for his 18-month-old son Jack.