23 August 2007
Top maths GCSE grades for Hackney students using innovative new
ICT teaching programme
Hackney students at Clapton Girls Technology College and
Cardinal Pole RC School achieved record results in their GCSE maths
after using Hackney PowerMaths, an innovative ICT-driven approach
to maths lessons funded by the City of London Corporation.
Of the 150 students attending the Hackney PowerMaths GCSE
classes, 65% achieved A*-C grades compared to the national average
of 55.2%.
Business leaders have increasingly lamented young people’s lack
of workplace skills and the Hackney PowerMaths programme is
supported by the City of London Corporation in conjunction with The
Learning Trust as part of a drive to improve young people’s
educational achievement in the City fringes. Hackney PowerMaths
increases young people’s employability in City support jobs - where
GCSE mathematics is a prerequisite.
Michael Snyder, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee
of the City of London Corporation, said: “We’re committed to
getting greater numbers of people in the City fringes into
employment in the City but poor grades in GCSE maths can be a real
barrier. We know there’s considerable talent in schools in the
neighbouring boroughs so we’re keen to work with educational bodies
to maximize students’ full potential. Hackney PowerMaths has been a
tangible success, raising pupils’ GCSE grades year on year and
facilitating access to City support jobs.”
Hackney PowerMaths brings maths learning alive in some of
London’s most challenging inner-City schools by combining
traditional teaching with the latest ICT for the classroom. In the
City-of-London-funded Hackney PowerMaths lessons, students use
remote keyboards to interact with computerised white boards and
solve maths problems. Since its inception in 2004, over 350 pupils
have benefited from the Hackney PowerMaths programme. Significant
improvements in grades, as well as in attendance, concentration and
behaviour, bear testimony to its success.
Numerous pupils achieved grades beyond their teachers’
expectations. This year’s results saw instances of students who
achieved ‘Us’, ‘Ds’ and ‘Bs’ in their mocks achieving ‘Cs’, ‘Bs’,
‘As’ and ‘A*s’ in their finals respectively, after attending
PowerMaths sessions.
One former Hackney PowerMaths student, Ben Golmohammadi,
achieved an A* in Maths GCSE and is currently studying Physics at
Oxford University. He says; “PowerMaths was a fantastic aid for our
GCSE coursework. By using computers, we learnt new ways of making
calculations and it kept the lessons fresh and interesting.”
Gerald Cort who created and teaches the Hackney PowerMaths
programme explains:
“The interactive technology increases their attention levels,
correlating directly to their retention levels. Giving the pupils
the ICT technology that they want makes them more motivated and
helps them to enjoy the lessons more fully.”
Ends
Notes for editors
The Hackney PowerMaths programme is part of the City of London
Corporation’s wider programme of initiatives to help regenerate the
boroughs surrounding the City.
For more information, please visit
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/regenerationprojects
The City of London Corporation is the elected business authority
for London's world-leading Square Mile business district. As well
as promoting the UK-based financial services industry both abroad
and in the UK, it provides local authority services in the Square
Mile - and offers many other services to London and the wider
nation. Its elected members are non-party political and it works
with others London authorities and City firms in many partnership
and regeneration projects.
For more information, please contact:
Rosalind Jeffcoat or Louise Ambridge
Rain Communications UK
Tel: 020 7222 4345
Email:
name.surname@raincommunications.co.uk