SPEED dating is not usually something pupils are encouraged to do in class, but at one York school they are doing just that to ensure that maths revision sticks.

At Millthorpe School youngsters in Year 11 are finding their perfect match across the desk, but it's not relationships they are working out, the students, who are currently in the middle of their GCSE exams, are using the novel technique to help come up with the right figures.

Students move around the classroom at five minute intervals dating a different class member each time. One person at the desk is deemed to be an ‘expert’ in a particular topic and their ‘date’ asks them for help with a question they struggled with on their homework.

Debra Papprill, second in department for maths, said this supports both students: it consolidates the learning of the expert and helps the ‘date’ hearing how another student answered the question and what skills and prior knowledge they used in tackling the problem.

Year 11 student Abi Thackway said: “This is a great way to help each other in class. It also helps me remember how to do things by teaching it to my peers”.

More importantly, some might say, it gives the students a break from listening to the teacher’s voice.

Ms Papprill said: “In our exit survey for year 11 students one of the most positive comments was the variety of techniques used in maths lessons which are very different form the lessons many parents may remember from their school days.

“Throughout the maths department and Millthorpe School as a whole there is a wide range of strategies used to support all years with revision for exams. Students today feel under increasing pressure to achieve well in exams and if we can make this feel fun and more enjoyable, every one gains.

John Bates, the school's assistant head teacher, said: “Studies have shown that we learn 95 per cent of what we teach, as opposed to 50 per cent of what we see and hear or just 10% of what we read, so this is a great way to help students retain knowledge.”