PRIMARY school children in

Strensall were treated to a maths lesson with a difference.

Two teachers from China - which is regularly found at the top end of global academic ability tables - delivered a lesson to Year 4 pupils at Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy yesterday.

The masterclass - which included maths usually taught at Year 6 level - was part of a teacher exchange programme involving the youngster’s teacher, Helen Jones, who is an Ebor Academy specialist.

Mrs Jones is one of 70 expert maths teachers from schools across England - and one of only two from the region - who travelled to Shanghai last September to observe methods of teaching maths lessons there.

She said: “It has been fascinating to be able to work alongside expert practitioners from other countries.

"It will be hugely beneficial for all teachers and children here, and will open up discussion to develop teaching of maths in the UK.”

Visiting teachers Jennifer and Joey engaged pupils with a range of colourful digital and simple practical methods.

Dubbed the ‘mastery’ approach, their teaching focuses on taking a series of small steps to master the subject, and is aimed at helping those with different levels of mathematical skill to achieve the same result.

After the lesson, Jennifer explained her approach to teachers in attendance from all over Yorkshire, saying that she had spent a lot of time reinforcing the basic rules - in this case in a lesson about fractions - because if pupils can get the basic rules right, it is easier for them to handle any maths problem.

Head teacher, Sarah Wright, said: “Hopefully everyone will take something back to their own schools. This is the start of the journey.”

The teaching for mastery programme is run by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics in conjunction with the Maths Hub programme, and is funded by the Department for Education.

There are 35 Maths Hubs across England, each led by a school with a record of high achievement in maths and of supporting improvements in maths teaching and learning in neighbouring schools.