New maths league really adds up after we help crowdfunding drive

Horton and Garton back new community maths league to foster young number crunchers

A project to help local youngsters become wizards with figures and develop into inventors and problem solvers is launching after a successful crowdfunding drive.

The new Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Maths League – backed by the Maths Team – achieved 30 individual pledges of money on Spacehive – with John Horton, founder of Horton & Garton estate agents in King Street, Hammersmith, one of the backers.

“It’s a great project,” John said. “There’s a talent gap in UK companies, with too few girls and children from less privileged backgrounds doing well. This project helps address that, and we’re proud to support it.”

Hammersmith & Fulham Council also added £2,100 to help it reach its £8,000 target.

Starts now

The new maths league starts this month, with Latymer Upper school in King Street, Hammersmith, as the ‘incubator’ school.

Teenagers from the school will help younger children learn that number-crunching can be fun. Then the aim is to roll the project out to other schools in the borough.

Carola Hoyos from Maths Teams explained: “We are building a community maths league to foster intellectual ambition, grit and teamwork in local schoolchildren. Teens coach primary pupils for 10 weeks in preparation for a three-week competition.

“We nurture children’s intellectual ambition through puzzles, logic, teamwork and a good dose of fun,” added Carola. “Our community leagues and young role models are building a pipeline of talent for a tech-led UK economy in which everyone has a chance to thrive.”

A love of maths

Led by teenagers, maths teams will help younger children practise and compete in logic puzzles, gaining a love of maths and academic achievement by representing their school in the same way as sports teams.

“Ultimately we want to make maths as cool as football at schools,” said Carola. “This local league is our first prototype. It’s a real learning opportunity for us to expand across the borough – and eventually across the UK.”

Maths puzzles will be set by experts and delivered in 10 weekly one-hour chunks, culminating in a three-week competition. It’s a valuable volunteering opportunity for secondary school students, who will all be given training.

The maths tournament call for teams of girls and boys in equal number, with provision for students who identify as neither. Practices are designed to get the best out of everyone, but especially young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For more details, visit: www.spacehive.com/profile/mathsteams