Want to move forward with maths?

Introducing the top maths programme that Scotland’s schools are reaching for!

As we move forward to a new academic year, is it time to move forward your school’s approach to maths teaching? Since 2000, Scottish Heinemann Maths (SHM) has helped educators and pupils achieve more in mathematics, with a school-friendly programme that’s adaptive to changes in teaching practice while also offering solid pedagogy and progression. Today it is the most widely used maths programme in Scotland, trusted by over 1,500 schools across the country to support both the 5-14 curriculum and the Curriculum for Excellence.

So what makes SHM a top teachers’ choice? We asked Helen Lamb, Deputy Head of St. Eunan’s in Clydebank, where teachers use all stages of the programme.

“We’ve got everything all together and just where we need it”

Wherever staff are currently reaching for a mix of materials from multiple sources in order to better support lesson delivery, SHM could save them a great deal of time, easing workloads dramatically. A one-stop shop of diverse resources, the programme provides all the support teachers need for their classes, from photocopy masters, activity books and resource packs, to extension books for the school’s most able learners. “It is so much better than dipping in and out of resources as we did before,” Helen tells us. “Now we’ve got everything all together and just where we need it… All the teachers have responded to the introduction of SHM in a very positive way.”

“The pupil materials are great”

SHM uses a variety of structured approaches to build pupil engagement, improving their motivation and confidence through collaborative maths learning and problem solving. Lesson plans start with lively oral and mental maths activities – ideal for use with the whole class or in groups – while interactive “tune-ins” and teaching activities introduce new topics and reinforce previous learning. The pupil materials are great,” Helen reports. “They are very bright, attractive and modern. The illustrations appeal to the children and the language is age-appropriate.”

These materials also include pupil activity software that incorporates ICT straightforwardly into maths teaching, with easy-to-use allocation options, differentiated activities and simple navigation requiring minimal supervision from school staff. Home activity sheets also work well as part of the pupil package, with Helen spotlighting these as “another plus point for SHM. They are very focused on what the children are doing in class, and it reinforces what they are learning, using similar language and a similar approach.”

“The Teaching File… is very teacher-friendly”

Created to enhance the experience of maths teaching for educators as well as new generations of young learners, SHM takes pride in giving schools full and flexible planning support, along with complete guidance on how to use the programme. The Teaching File provides structure for medium- and short-term planning, while schools also benefit from access to the Scottish Programme of Study for Maths: a flexible electronic means to help plan lessons, with a range of supplementary maths resources, plus editable tests and record sheets. “It is very teacher-friendly,” Helen says, “with manageable planning… The File is detailed, but not overly so, and it is easy to follow. There are some great areas about how to approach teaching all of the topics. And we like the level of interactivity – it helps set everything very firmly in the children's minds."

“Our results have improved”

Linking directly with 5-14 guidelines, the SHM programme presents age-and-stage appropriate assessment opportunities throughout its components, helping schools monitor overall progress with a view to raising standards. “The assessment within SHM works well for us,” says Helen. “It allows us to track the progress of individuals as well as groups, and we can easily pinpoint any difficulties very early on. Then we can let parents know at an early stage and explain any problem areas.”

The style of assessment, and flexible programme structure, also enables teachers to adapt the pace of progression where needed, better meeting the unique needs and abilities of different pupils. “With SHM we can set an ambitious pace for the brighter children,” Helen explains. “Now in Primary 5, our top set are working at Level D, which we have only been able to do with SHM… The Textbooks and Extension Textbooks work well for the slower learners too.”

The upshot? “We've seen an increase in our National Assessment results,” says Helen. “Our results have improved.”

Do you want to learn more about Scotland’s favourite maths programme – and develop confident mathematicians within your own school community?