Brecon Maths Teacher uses Drama to improve Pupils’ Confidence

31 January 2008

Anne Banning, a Maths teacher at Brecon High School, has found an innovative way of building her pupils’ confidence and improving their motivation, all thanks to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) from the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW). Anne’s idea was to use drama in the classroom, by setting up scenarios within which the teacher’s role is relinquished and the children assume the adult roles in the situation. As part of the scenario, Anne introduced maths problems such as percentages to be worked out as a part of the drama.

Anne believes that the activities have helped her pupils to improve their maths skills and exam results. Having discussed the teaching concepts with other staff in the department, she has devised a number of other scenarios to try out. She is also establishing a network of teachers from other schools in order to gain wider feedback on the benefits of this approach.

Mrs Banning said; “Reflecting on the activity was a most interesting and stimulating activity. At the course held at NUT headquarters one of the officials commented that my activity had created a great deal of interest.. I would like to observe teachers trying different approaches in this country or even abroad, as in the future there is a definite need for ideas to keep children interested and motivated in subjects like maths. As well as improving motivation, I also found that these activities improved my relationships with the pupils.”

Hayden Llewellyn, Deputy Chief Executive of GTCW, commented: "A significant proportion of the teaching population in Wales has taken advantage of the Council's CPD funding programme. Teachers in Wales take their professional development seriously and we are delighted to be able to help Anne Banning enhance her maths teaching through the use of innovative techniques such as these”

GTCW has taken measures to ensure that the CPD funding is as easy as possible for teachers to access. Information and application forms are sent to all eligible teachers and can be downloaded through GTCW's website at www.gtcw.org.uk