Alan Thomas-Williams
Teacher (Junior Dept Maths Coordinator)
Used Big Maths for 5 or 6 years
Jun 2020
I feel it’s invaluable in terms of formative assessment. It gives the school a strategic and developing framework of methods that graduate with comprehension from one to the next. It allows for both individual and group tracking and thus planning. It keeps skills that were previously covered once a year in the minds of pupils on a weekly basis. It helps engagement. It has improved results. The team at Big Maths are incredibly helpful and offer guidance whenever I’ve needed it.
Alan Thomas-Williams found Big Maths:
- Significantly improves attainment“We saw Level 5 results grow in % from the years previous to the programme’s introduction at the school.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Our Mathematical Reasoning data has improved greatly and is above the Welsh average. I believe having confidence in using methods allows more room to consider application.”
- Moderately reduces attainment gap“Often pupils may feel disengaged from learning. Big Maths existence as a colourful online space makes it both appealing and engaging. Needless to say, engagement helps bridge the attainment gaps.”
- Significantly improves teaching efficiency and productivity“Marking time has been reduced. Formative Assessment is rarely needed beyond Big Maths, it gives an accurate picture of individual and group gaps in learning allowing weekly response to a specific class’ need.”
- Significantly reduces teacher workload“Marking, Assessing, Creating resources and guidance for parents are all heavily supported by the website.”
- Moderately improves teacher knowledge and skills“It’s allowed a better over view of the development of methods. Teachers further up the school are aware of skills that form the basis of their work and those lower down the school have a greater appreciation of how their skills are developed and built upon. It allows for a more linear teaching strategy within the school.”
- Slightly saves school money
- Significantly provides school data“Times tables, pure maths skills and SAFE skills are all tracked and can correspond to statutory assessment tools without having to double the assessing.”
- Significantly improves parental engagement“Parents often say “I’m scared to help, I might do it wrong.” or “It’s changed since I was at school.” By tracking each child individually, we can work with parents to target specific skills, using parent packs to ensure their comprehension of methods and how those methods sit in the bigger picture of their child’s educational journey.”
- Moderately improves behaviour or wellbeing“See above about workload!”
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