In February, the AMSP were invited to The Excel Academy for a morning of workshops for Year 9 and 10 pupils.
John Berrisford from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Stephanie May from the BBC spoke to the pupils about their work, how they got to do the jobs that they have, and the importance of maths within their work.
John asked the pupils to calculate the amount of time a firefighter would have available from breathing apparatus, and Stephanie talked about how maths helped her complete an engineering degree. She also spoke about her varied career journey and the different roles she has had, including maintaining vital medical equipment on Mercy Ships which provide free surgery in Africa.
Later in the day, Tom Rainbow, one of the AMSP Core Maths Professional Development leads, talked to the maths department about introducing the Core Maths level 3 qualification. He explained the potential benefits of Core Maths for students once they have completed their GCSE and progressed from The Excel Academy, which is an 11-16 academy. The teachers were introduced to resources and tasks that students studying Core Maths might do, and they enjoyed the challenge of the problems Tom set.
Similar free events could be arranged for schools in the region. To enquire, contact your local Area Coordinator.