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
We have a shared belief 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
Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
We are committed to:
- Regularly embedding non-standard problem-solving opportunities in our maths curriculum for all
- Ensuring that problems, and classroom support, offer opportunities for all to experience both struggle and success
- Allocating time to developing key problem-solving skills (Primary and Secondary) and positive attitudes (Curious, Resilient, Resourceful, Collaborative)
- Including non-standard problems in our internal/formative assessments
- Liaising with other subjects so that meaningful cross-curricular links can be made
Classroom culture
We aim to:
- Create a safe environment in which learners explore, take risks, and appreciate the value of learning from their mistakes
- Celebrate multiple approaches to solving problems and discuss the merits of the different strategies offered
- Provide frequent opportunities for individual and collaborative problem-solving, where learners are given both thinking time, and opportunities to share ideas and insights
- Celebrate the mathematical thinking of every learner
Problem-solving beyond the classroom/school
We encourage:
- Learners to engage with school Maths Club(s) and high quality Primary and Secondary maths books, ideally stocked by the school library
- Learners to take advantage of printed, online (Parallel, Chalkdust, Numberphile, Plus) and off-site mathematical enrichment opportunities (MathsCity, The Royal Institution, Maths Inspiration)
- Parents and carers to engage with problem-solving through family homeworks and in-school events, while recognising that not every adult has had a positive experience of maths
- Our 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.