Craighill Primary pupils in Tain in Easter Ross get to grips with maths out of doors thanks to Science Skills Academy kit initiative

PUPILS at an Easter Ross primary were amongst those to benefit from outdoor maths kits provided to schools across the Highland Council area.

Maths Week Scotland and the Science Skills Academy (SSA) have jointly funded 174 outdoor maths kits for every primary school in the Highland Council area.

Amongst them was Craighill Primary in Tain in Easter Ross.

Maths Week Scotland was part of the Scottish Government’s drive to encourage positive attitudes to numeracy and maths and is developed and delivered by National Museums Scotland. The range of activities highlights how maths is an everyday activity, and central to enjoyment of games, sport, art and design.

One of the key focus areas for Maths Week Scotland in 2020 is outdoor learning. In preparation for the week and the kits they would be supplying, the SSA ran six online professional development sessions for 245 teachers and educators across the Highlands. These teachers estimated that 4125 young people would be taking part in the outdoor maths activities.

Katie Oldfield, Maths Week Scotland co-ordinator, said: “Outdoor activities are a great way to make education more exciting and these kits help teachers in their delivery. The SSA has done a great job of reaching all of the schools in the Highlands. Maths has a role to play in so many daily activities and across so many different careers and sectors. It is fantastic that Maths Week Scotland allows teachers and children to think about the subject in different ways.”

The SSA is a partnership project led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to help increase the number of young people with the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills needed for future economic growth in the region. Set up in 2016, SSA received £3m from the Scottish Government as part of the £315m Inverness and Highlands City Region Deal, which is funded by the Scottish and UK Governments and regional partners.

Related: Maths Week adds up to fun outdoors for Kirkhill kids

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