On leaving school, you may think you’re finished with maths forever, but Numeracy Champion Ian Thompson has shown that certainly isn’t the case!
Maths tutor Ian is a great supporter of National Numeracy and for this year’s National Numeracy Day, set off around the streets of Hull and Humber to chat to people about their maths experiences and how they use numbers in everyday life and work (you can watch some of his videos below).
The importance of numbers for everyday work and life
Meeting people in local businesses, he found that even if people didn’t necessarily get on well with maths at school, they soon learnt they needed it for work and life.
At a garden centre, Ian learnt how important numbers are for planting, while at a bike repair shop, he was shown how numbers are involved everywhere, from matching the size of bike frame to the height of the cyclist to looking at tyre pressure.
Meanwhile, speaking to trainee hairdressers, Ian heard how maths had felt “random” at school, but is easier to understand now when practically applied to the world of hairdressing.
And a worker at a gallery felt maths had been their worst subject at school, but now they use it a lot at work for cashing up and using spreadsheets.
Across these different workplaces, Ian discovered a common theme: maths made much more sense when it was connected to real-world tasks, helping people solve practical problems and do their jobs effectively.
You can gain confidence in everyday maths and apply it to the real world
Ian is the founder of Maths By Ian and has been teaching since 2002, supporting students around the world. His offer includes support for school pupils preparing for exams and adults studying Functional Skills as well as business leaders looking to upskill their workforce.
Ian’s numeracy chats with people from local businesses are excellent at showing how maths at school can be very different to maths in the real world and how not enjoying the subject or feeling that you weren’t very good at it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get on with numbers when they’re applied in everyday work and life.
Watch Ian’s videos below and find out more about National Numeracy Day here.
