How rugby inspires numeracy skills

Project
Tackling Numbers

Purpose
To boost children’s numeracy and maths skills

Funding
Sponsored by credit card brand MBNA as part of its corporate social responsibility programme

Background
Numeracy is a vital life skill but it can be difficult to engage children in what may not seem like the most gripping of subjects. Credit card company MBNA teamed up with Premiership Rugby to devise a scheme to get children excited about maths and help boost financial literacy in families.

Action
The Tackling Numbers scheme launched in 2009 and is now in its third year, operating in 14 areas of England. It is delivered via the Premiership Rugby clubs. Community coaches go into schools to teach the five-week programme to year 4 pupils aged eight and nine. Sessions consist of an hour of classroom activities that have a rugby theme, supported by practical PE lessons where children play tag rugby.

“It’s about doing maths in a way that brings it to life,” explains Sophie Hartley, programme delivery manager at Premiership Rugby. “For example, working out areas is a core part of the curriculum, so we get children to work out the area of a rugby pitch.”

In the sixth week, parents are invited to take part in a session with the children and receive advice on how to support numeracy at home.

All schools that take part are new to rugby. Many are in some of the most deprived areas in England. Once the programme is complete, schools can continue using the Tackling Numbers resources in maths lessons and get a tag rugby pack and equipment to help continue coaching tag rugby.

Outcome
According to an evaluation at the end of the second year, 2010/11, the programme reached 8,400 children in 280 schools, with more than 1,050 parents taking part. In addition, 359 teachers were trained to teach tag rugby and 2,249 children participated in tag rugby festivals.

A hundred per cent of teachers thought the programme met their physical education curriculum objectives and 90 per cent thought it met their maths curriculum goals. Ninety-seven per cent of teachers rated the Tackling Numbers resources as “excellent” or “good”. Meanwhile, 75 per cent of teachers involved said the scheme had improved and strengthened pupils’ attitudes towards maths and numeracy.

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