The first week of February was Numeracy week and across the College, staff and students recognised the ways in which numeracy plays a vital role in all academic studies and career pathways. Departments ran special events and taught carefully adapted lessons to highlight numeracy and mathematics within their subject area.  Whilst across College, the relevance of numeracy was displayed to celebrate and promote the importance of being worldly numerate.

The week revolved around Numeracy Day, Wednesday 3 February, when all students were invited to test their everyday numeracy skills through the National Numeracy Challenges’ online check-up. 2511 students completed this earning certificates to add to their employability profile. It also provided them with a breakdown of their strengths and weaknesses offering resources to help them improve.

In Philosophy, students discussed how logical reasoning skills are central to both the study of mathematics and philosophy - recognising that many of the most important figures in both fields celebrated the cross-over.

The presence of numeric patterns within poetic structure, metre and form were displayed in English. It was also shown how statistics are used in English language as part of research methods and techniques necessary for effective coursework.

Media and Film students saw just how critical numeracy is to their subject, discussing shutter speed, aperture and focal length, relationships in paper sizes and proportionality within movie shots amongst many other applications.

In Law, students looked at how Damages are calculated in court cases. In Psychology students analysed famous psychologists through statistical measures, and took part in a conformity study to seemingly ‘guess the number of sweets in a jar’. The importance of strong numeracy skills within Computer Science, Music Technology and Business Studies was raised within lessons as students were invited to think more deeply about applications within their subject. Health and Social Care students at both Level 2 and 3 saw how being numerate is so important in all medical and public service professions.

Throughout the Art and Design department, discussions about the importance of numeracy within the profession took place as subject tutors shared how numeracy is used within their own artwork. A painting by numbers piece was created by students from across the College on Friday 5 February to celebrate the end of numeracy week.

“This was our first year getting all courses across the College to bring numeracy in their subjects to life, following a very successful Pi Day from the Maths Department last year.  It was absolutely superb to see how all teachers embraced the week, coming up with very creative and thought provoking ways in order to raise awareness of numeracy, and showcase its relevance in everything we do and study.” Rebecca Rhodes, Assistant Principal Teaching, Learning and Assessment

For more information on the national numeracy charity or to take the challenge visit: www.nnchallenge.org.uk

To read the National Numeracy case study on our Numeracy week, please click here.