The idea of primary Maths Circles is to make a life-changing improvement in the ability of 4-11 year olds to think creatively and think mathematically.
Children will develop a feel for what it is like to do proper mathematics and think like a proper mathematician. They will learn how to solve hard problems and practice focusing on problems they cannot easily solve.
A Circle will show a child the beauty of maths and inspire them to see that maths is fascinating, creative and precious. This is something they will value for life.
We will find, create and share excellent teaching materials (problems, books, visualisations and so on). This will develop a curriculum and materials that can be used beyond Circles for use in homeschools or by pioneering schools willing to explore beyond the National Curriculum. This could provide children from 4-11 with a way of thinking that prepares them for studying maths and other subjects deeply after 11.
So far we have been delighted to discover that Circles in primaries really work. We have introduced Year 3/4 children to the ideas below and found them eager to learn and excited.
- Probability
- Logic and sets
- Factors, powers and roots
- Algebraic manipulation
- Transformations and vectors
- Prime numbers and cryptography
- Pi and the beauty of circles
- Matrices
- Analysing and presenting data
Most of these ideas are not explored in normal primary schools but the children are more than capable of understanding them. This is what it means to explore beyond the National Curriculum.
The thought of diverging from the curriculum can feel alarming to parents, but it’s vital to remember that the National Curriculum and government controlled exams are primarily political things. They are shaped by political goals, not educational goals.The government system forces practically all children to do the same things, and to miss out on the same things, even though they are capable of so much more.
Circles are outside the state education system and we will take no funding from the state so we are free to focus purely on education without political or bureaucratic pressures.