(MOD) East London schools rise to the challenge with RAF maths workshops

During the 2009 academic spring term the Royal Air Force (RAF) will be visiting classrooms across the capital in a bid to help 14-16 year-old pupils with their Maths studies by presenting the subject in an engaging real-life context.

From 16th March to 20th March 2009, the RAF Maths Challenge Workshop tour will transform classrooms into temporary RAF bases in an attempt to make Maths more exciting and demonstrate its relevance in the workplace.

The RAF Maths Workshop has been developed with teachers to support the Maths curriculum by providing a series of fun, interactive Maths activities for 14-16 year-olds. The workshop tour is part of an ongoing programme that provides teachers with valuable support, offering a range of free educational materials and an interactive website: http://www.raf.mod.uk/target

Group Captain Gordon Bruce, Head of Recruiting for the RAF said: "With Maths widely regarded as one of the most difficult subjects, and often considered by pupils to be irrelevant in everyday life, the RAF workshops are in high demand from teachers seeking help to engage students with the subject. They provide examples of real problems that pupils could face, whether they choose a career with us or elsewhere, and this helps to bring the subject to life."

During the workshops, pupils will be tasked with a variety of activities in the context of RAF scenarios, showing the importance of maths in RAF life. Activities include calculating prescription codes in an RAF Field Hospital, using decibel meters to measure noise levels for health and safety and plotting coordinates to arrange the flight plan for an important mission.

Workshop leaders have been specifically trained for the tour and will be joined by RAF personnel to help explain how Maths is applied to solving problems within working life in the RAF.