The Educator Magazine U.K. Sept-Dec 2024 issue - Magazine - Page 32
How OneSchool
Global is tackling
‘Maths Anxiety’ by
teaching students
how to learn
By Richard Markham, Regional Head of Department for
Mathematics at OneSchool Global
A recent survey by the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and
Development’s Programme for
International Student Assessment found
that, in 2023, UK children achieved their
lowest scores in Maths and Science since
2006. This decline is a result of several
factors, including the significant
disruption created by the COVID-19
pandemic, but also the increasingly
understood phenomenon of ‘Maths
Anxiety’.
This term describes feelings of anxiety,
apprehension, or discomfort some pupils
face when confronted by a Maths
problem. Pupils who experience this often
become disengaged with the subject,
creating substantial barriers to learning.
This can also have repercussions not just
on a student’s grades, but also on their
overall skillsets and future opportunities.
As Regional Head of Department for
Mathematics at OneSchool Global, the
global network of schools with 24
campuses across the UK, I have seen
firsthand how our emphasis on selfdirected learning has proven a powerful
tool for preventing and alleviating Maths
Anxiety among our pupils.
Encouraging ownership and
initiative
At the heart of OneSchool Global’s
approach is the concept of self-directed
learning. This approach is guided by our
bespoke ‘Learning to Learn Framework’,
an educational framework which focuses
on empowering students to make
decisions, guide themselves, and reflect
on their learning journey.
Informed by this approach, our teachers
are responsible for lesson time, including
managing workshops, demonstrations
and assessments. However, what is
unique to OneSchool Global is that our
teachers do not focus their efforts on
simply conveying what they know to
pupils. Instead, our teachers focus on
helping students to self-direct their
educational journey, including by
learning how to recognise when they are
making progress.
This Framework also covers personal
study time. Here, students can choose to
work alone, or with their peers, or request
a one-on-one session with their teacher.
Our approach encourages students to
identify their strengths and weaknesses
and to take the initiative to work on topics
they are less confident in during lessons.
The main reason the Framework is
successful is because it rests on simple
principles: encouraging students to
challenge themselves, to reflect, and not
be afraid of making mistakes.
As a result, students become active
participants in their learning experience,
rather than passive recipients of
information, and take the initiative for
their education. What is more, we have
found that this Framework can be applied
particularly effectively to those subjects
which can be easily broken up into
shorter topics and tasks – such as Maths.
Embracing trial and error
OneSchool Global’s pedagogy stresses
the importance of trial and error as a
natural part of the learning process.
Students are taught that making mistakes
is an essential component of learning,
and they are encouraged to focus their
efforts on their weaknesses rather than
strengths.
When applied to Maths lessons, the
Framework helps to demystify the subject
and reduce the fear of failure. In turn, this
approach helps to prevent and alleviate
any anxieties students associate with the
subject.
This approach builds self-confidence
and encourages students to challenge
themselves. For this reason, when
students understand that errors are in
fact opportunities for growth, they are
more likely to engage deeply with the
material and persist through challenges.
Through this approach, we are not only
improving Maths scores but also
equipping students with the selfconfidence to thrive in all areas of their
lives.
Building ‘Maths Confidence’
As schools across the UK continue to
grapple with the challenges created by
Maths Anxiety, OneSchool Global’s model
serves as a powerful example of a tested
and proven approach to best support
pupils.
By emphasising self-directed learning
in Maths, and providing the necessary
support structures, schools across the
country can help students overcome
Maths Anxiety and achieve their full
potential. All schools could benefit
hugely from integrating these principles
into their Maths disciplines. By doing so,
students will be better empowered to
understand their strengths and
weaknesses and have the confidence
and take the necessary steps to develop
their abilities.
By fostering a culture of ownership
among pupils, educators can better help
students build ‘Maths Confidence’ to help
them succeed in the subject and beyond.