At St. Patrick’s, we aim to support the development of Numeracy skills for all students, helping them to use these skills confidently across the curriculum and in everyday life. Strong Numeracy skills are essential for success in further education, employment, and adult responsibilities.

Numeracy is primarily developed through Mathematics but is also reinforced in other subjects. It involves building confidence and competence with numbers, measures, and problem-solving. When students have opportunities to apply these skills in different contexts, their understanding is deepened and their confidence grows.

Improving Numeracy across the curriculum involves:

  • Encouraging consistent use of Numeracy skills in various subjects.
  • Promoting awareness among staff of how Numeracy supports learning.
  • Fostering a positive attitude towards Numeracy among students.
  • Providing support and opportunities for students who need additional help.
  • A coordinated approach helps ensure that Numeracy is embedded throughout the school, with staff working together to create meaningful learning experiences that strengthen students’ skills and confidence.

Here are some of the ways in which students are supported to apply mathematical thinking across a wide range of subjects.

Science

Data analysis: Interpreting graphs, charts, and tables.

Measurement: Using units, converting measurements, calculating averages.

Formulae: Applying and rearranging equations.

 

Geography

Statistics: Reading population data, climate graphs.

Scale and distance: Using map scales, calculating travel times.

Coordinates: Understanding grid references and spatial data.

 

History

Timelines: Calculating durations between events.

Interpreting data: Analysing historical statistics (e.g. census data).

Economic history: Understanding inflation, trade figures, and currency values.

 

English

Critical thinking: Evaluating numerical claims in persuasive writing.

Media literacy: Interpreting statistics in articles and reports.

Art & Design

Geometry: Understanding shapes, symmetry, and proportions.

Scaling: Enlarging or reducing images accurately.

 

PE (Physical Education)

Performance analysis: Tracking progress using statistics.

Measurement: Timing events, calculating averages and improvements.

 

Technology & Computing

Programming: Using logic and algorithms.

Design: Applying measurements and calculations in product creation.

 

Modern Foreign Languages

Time and dates: Learning how to express time, dates, and schedules in another language.

Numbers and counting: Practising number vocabulary through games and real-life scenarios.

Grammar links: Understanding patterns and structures (e.g. verb conjugation tables) which mirror mathematical logic.