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Sum-it! maths clubs

What is it?

The ethos of Sum-it!, the maths clubs network, is to promote the use of out-of-school-hours-learning (oshl) clubs as a way of delivering fun maths and to help raise attainment, engagement and enjoyment in maths.

A maths club is much more than a lesson that takes place out-of-school-hours. A maths club is a non-threatening place where young people can have fun with maths through game play or fun activities. It can also be a place for staff to try innovative teaching methods, with no right or wrong answers, using conjecture and discovery and linking with other subjects. It can also be a place to show how maths is relevant to young people, for example through music, shopping or sport.

ContinYou has helped schools across the UK set up and run clubs that show young people that maths can be fun.

Sum-it! resource packFree resource pack now available

Developed with help from the DfES (now DCSF), this resource pack takes you through the steps to set up maths clubs and keep them going. Get your free copy now:

Training

Sum-it! has developed its own training with Isaac Anoom, Mr Numbervator, and Chris Olley, Manager of Number Partners. The one day training gives you all you need to set up and run a club, from ideas and motivation to a materials pack to take back to your club.

Training is usually delivered through local authorities or to a cluster of schools. But we can also deliver workshops at conferences and INSET days, delivered either by a member of ContinYou staff or with Mr Numbervator. For example, we've recently trained over 25 schools from Nottinghamshire LEA and held a workshop at the British Congress of Mathematics Education.

To discuss Sum-it! training or to book a training day, email Sum-it! or call 020 8709 9924.

Background

In 2002 Deutsche Bank funded Education Extra (now ContinYou) to set up and run of maths clubs in twelve London secondary schools. Soon after, funding was secured from other financial institutions to run similar projects in Bristol and Yorkshire. In the third year of support from Deutsche Bank funding was given to set up Sum-it! so that the knowledge could be shared and more schools reached.

Evaluation

In November 2005, finite Research was commissioned to carry out an evaluation of the impact of the maths clubs in 6 schools for whom funding for the clubs had been extended into the 2005/ 06 academic year. This evaluation was carried out between January and July 2006.

Read more, and download the full report, in our online reference.