Since November 2021, staff and students across Newham College Centre for Excellence network have been taking part in the MEI Further Education Maths Challenge. The challenge is aimed at helping to raise the aspirations and achievements of post-16 students who are working towards gaining a Functional Skills maths qualification or improving their GCSE Mathematics grade and to develop positive mindsets around their mathematics learning. Students compete against peers at their level of maths, so that everyone is given the opportunity to succeed.
The challenge has found great success within the network, with staff and students alike giving very positive feedback about the online games played. More than 30% of students across the college have taken part to date – the highest participation rate in the national centre work.
Cheers of success have been heard in the corridors of Newham College from not just the winners but all participants during the first round in December, and teachers have reported that learners are more motivated in their maths learning.
The FE Maths Challenge is happening throughout the 11 Challenge clusters across the country. Newham College CfEM is extremely proud that student involvement across our cluster accounts for more than a third of involvement nationally in the competition.
For further information or if you are interested in sponsoring the competition for either the Newham College CfEM cluster or the cross-London CfEM Hub final, please contact the Newham College CfEM team at CfEM@newham.ac.uk.
Centres for Excellence in Maths (CfEM) is a five-year national improvement programme aimed at delivering sustained improvements in maths outcomes for 16-19-year-olds, up to Level 2, in post-16 settings.
Funded by the Department for Education and delivered by the Education and Training Foundation, the programme is exploring what works for teachers and students, embedding related CPD and good practice, and building networks of maths professionals in colleges.
