Mathletics at Hovingham Primary School!

I visited one of my favourite schools again this afternoon. I was at Hovingham Primary School which serves the Chapeltown and Harehills communities in Leeds for their latest 'Mathletics Celebration'.

Janet Spence, the headteacher, and Jane Fisher, assistant headteacher, who leads the work on Mathletics, have created an extraordinary culture focused on hard work and positive attitudes. These celebrations brought powerfully alive by the whole school's singing and the positive psychology that surrounds every aspect of their work. It was another brilliant afternoon attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, who became the first lady Lord-Lieutenant in the north of England in 2004, the Lord Mayor of Leeds 2011 – 2012, Councillor Alan Taylor who was born in Leeds and attended Hunslet Carr School, and Jane Warburton who is the Chief Executive of Mathletics.

Hovingham Primary School is an extraordinary learning place and I had been to most of their Mathletics celebrations. Matheletics is a commercial on-line website which aims to help develop maths learning and motivation. The children are set goals and achieve gold, silver and bronze certificates supplemented this time by platinum awards because the children have been so successful! Jane Warburton explained that the school had achieved more than any other Mathletics school in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, Europe and the world and some of the children were the most successful students using the scheme anywhere in the world! What an achievement for a primary school serving this rich, diverse community at the heart of Harehills. This school is making a real difference and Jane told me that the children have never been so keen on doing maths and that she is amazed at how excited and motivated the children are by the scheme. They even had parents achieving awards this time! If you want to find out more about Hovingham Primary School you can visit their website at www.hovingham.leeds.sch.uk and if you want to find out more about the 'Mathletics' scheme you can visit their website at www.mathletics.co.uk.

Chris











Chris