May 2014

The know zone

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    Richard Bird examines new government guidance on safeguarding and is reassured to and it emphasises professional judgement rather than box-ticking. More
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  • ASCL PD events
    Unexploited Potential? The Role of the Clerk in Outstanding Governance, CPD Conference: Manageable, Meaningful and Motivating, and Ofsted Seminars: How to be Prepared for Inspection More
  • Supporting staff
    The non-teaching team can play a vital role in raising standards, provided they receive the right training More
  • Strength in numbers
    National Numeracy is a charity that focuses on helping adults and young people to improve their everyday maths skills. More
  • Adding value
    Using data as evidence More
  • Tense presence?
    The debate about school inspection has intensified over the last few weeks, with fundamental questions being asked about Ofsted and the future of the school inspection system. Here, members share their views on one of the issues being discussed – notice of inspections and whether they would like more or less notice. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    Count the cost, Stick to the plan, and Please sir, can we have some more? More
  • Accident investigator...
    A close shave with a plane prompted Allan Foulds to reflect on what can be learned when anything that can go wrong does go wrong. More
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Strength in numbers

National Numeracy is a charity that focuses on helping adults and young people to improve their everyday maths skills.

Set up in 2012, National Numeracy is an independent charity that focuses on adults and young people with low levels of numeracy. They believe that everyone can reach a level of functional numeracy appropriate to their daily life and they intend to support all learners, and those working with learners, on the mathematical journey from early number understanding to the equivalent of at least a C grade at GCSE.

What is the National Numeracy Challenge?

The National Numeracy Challenge is a project that aims to show millions of people that they can do something to improve their everyday maths skills and give them the help they need to get there. The Challenge encourages everyone to check their own level of numeracy, using a web-based self-assessment tool, the Challenge Online (see: www.nnchallenge.org.uk/ASCL), and lead those who need it towards a programme of personal learning. The initial target is to raise at least one million people out of poor numeracy over the next five years.

National Numeracy Chief Executive, Mike Ellicock, said, “The Challenge is all about getting people to understand why it’s worth doing, persuading them that they can do it – anyone can – and then supporting them through the process. It’s different from anything that has been tried before – it’s different in how it approaches numeracy and we hope it’s going to be different in the reach it achieves.”

Why is the National Numeracy Challenge so important?

The National Numeracy Challenge is launched against a backdrop of recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) research showing that the UK is failing to keep up with other countries in maths. Government figures also show that virtually half the working-age population have the maths skills expected of children at primary school and more than three-quarters are below the level equivalent to the maths GCSE that many employers regard as necessary for work.

Are any other partners involved?

The Challenge aims to work with an expanding network of employers, unions, training providers, education and community organisations to create the largest ever drive to improve everyday maths skills. Partners already signed up to support the Challenge include ASCL, Nationwide Building Society, City of Portsmouth, TUC unionlearn, Workplace Learning Advocates (WLAs), Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Merseytravel, the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and a number of public libraries. All are encouraging their employees, members, clients and local residents to take the Challenge and spread the word about the importance of good numeracy.

How can schools and colleges get involved?

The National Numeracy Challenge presents an opportunity for schools and colleges to help in the drive to improve everyone’s confidence and competence with everyday maths. We’d like ASCL members to take the lead by signing up their school or college and getting all their staff – teachers, teaching assistants and support staff – to take the Challenge and encourage parents and their wider communities to take it, too.

Find out more...

For further information, visit www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/nnchallenge or to discuss how your school or college can participate in this national drive, contact Amy Sweet at info@nnchallenge.org.uk or call 01273 900 298.

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