Pupils can take maths to a much higher level (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pupils can take maths to a much higher level

YOUNG mathematicians will be able to extend and develop their skills thanks to a new Government sponsored scheme that puts Hardenhuish School at the centre of a countywide initiative.

The Chippenham comprehensive school made a successful bid to become a Further Maths School on top of its maths and computing specialist status in the hope of boosting interest and take-up in maths at sixth form level.

The Wiltshire Further Maths Centre at Hardenhuish will receive £110, 000 over the next three years.

Headteacher Colin Smith said: "We had confirmation of the bid at the end of the summer term and I am really pleased. It gives us the funding to strengthen and promote mathematics at sixth form level.

"We will be working with colleges and universities to develop and increase the number of students taking up maths.

"This will be a way of making sure that if students have an aptitude for maths, there are routes for them into higher and further education," he said.

The scheme will be based at Hardenhuish but it will benefit secondary schools and colleges right across the county.

Run by teachers Benny Griffin and Andrea Perks, the scheme will make the study of Further Maths more widely available at A/S and A level.

It is a subject of great importance for any student interested in maths, computing and engineering. For an A level in maths, students take four core subjects plus two options. To take Further Maths, the student works on another six options.

For various reasons such as the experience of teaching staff and the numbers of pupils not all schools offer Further Maths, but the new scheme headed by Ms Perks and Mr Griffin should help schools make it more widely available.