We have developed this Charter to help you reflect on how you currently promote mathematical problem solving in your school. We are hoping that the links we have included will give you some ideas on how to raise the profile of problem solving in your school.
We are planning to add further links and would be happy to receive your recommendations by email.
Values and ethos
In our setting, it is evident to our students that...
- Mathematical ability is not fixed: everyone can learn and make progress
- Problem solving often involves taking wrong turns and making mistakes: every learner has the right to struggle and the right to enjoy success
- Everyone should have the opportunity to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to become confident problem solvers
- Problem solving can motivate learners to learn new mathematics, apply previous learning and make mathematical connections
Leadership and professional development
In our setting...
- Our staff promote positive attitudes towards problem solving
- Time is set aside to discuss problem solving in our meetings
- Our displays, newsletters, website, and social media content celebrate problem solving for all
- Our monitoring system ensures that priority is given to problem solving and mathematical thinking
- We engage with printed, online and face-to-face professional development opportunities offered by subject organisations (e.g. ATM, MA, NCETM, LUMEN)
Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
In our setting...
- We regularly embed non-standard problem-solving opportunities in our maths curriculum for all
- We ensure that problems, and classroom support, offer opportunities for all to experience both struggle and success
- We allocate time to developing key mathematical thinking skills (Primary mathematical thinking skills and Secondary mathematical thinking skills) and positive attitudes (Curious, Resilient, Resourceful, Collaborative)
- We include non-standard problems in our internal/formative assessments
- We liaise with other subjects so that meaningful cross-curricular links can be made
Classroom culture
In our setting...
- We create a safe environment in which learners explore, take risks, and appreciate the value of learning from their mistakes
- We celebrate multiple approaches to solving problems and discuss the merits of the different strategies offered
- We provide frequent opportunities for individual and collaborative problem solving, where learners are given both thinking time and opportunities to share ideas and insights
- We celebrate the mathematical thinking of every learner
Problem solving beyond the classroom/school
In our setting...
- We offer school maths club(s) and recommend high-quality Primary maths books and Secondary maths books, ideally stocked by the school library
- We encourage learners to take advantage of printed, online (Parallel, Chalkdust, Numberphile, UKMT, Plus) and off-site mathematical enrichment opportunities (MathsCity, The Royal Institution, Maths Inspiration, UKMT)
- We support parents and carers to engage with problem solving through family homework and in-school events, while recognising that not every adult has had a positive experience of maths
- We encourage learners to appreciate, and learn more about, the achievements of a diverse range of mathematicians
You may find this printable version of the Charter useful.