Staff
Mr K Blair – Faculty Leader Mathematics and Numeracy
Mr J Alexander
Mrs D Cameron
Mrs M Galbraith
Mrs M Lunday
Mrs C O’Connor
Mr D McLean
Mr M Stevenson
The Importance of Mathematics
Mathematical thinking is important for all members of a modern society as a habit of mind for its use in the workplace, business and finance; and for personal decision-making. Mathematics is fundamental to national prosperity in providing tools for understanding science, engineering, technology and economics. It is essential in public decision-making and for participation in the knowledge economy.
Mathematics equips pupils with uniquely powerful ways to describe, analyse and change the world. It can stimulate moments of pleasure and wonder for all pupils when they solve a problem for the first time, discover a more elegant solution, or notice hidden connections. Pupils who are functional in mathematics and financially capable are able to think independently in applied and abstract ways, and can reason, solve problems and assess risk.
Mathematics is a creative discipline. The language of mathematics is international. The subject transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is universally recognised. Mathematics has developed over time as a means of solving problems and also for its own sake.
Numeracy
Numeracy development progresses as part of mathematics and underpins much of what is taught in this area. Numeracy across learning provides essential analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills across the curriculum. All staff and all teachers, regardless of the subject being taught, are responsible for supporting, developing and extending learners’ numeracy skills and for ensuring that what a child has learned in earlier years is built upon, practised and refreshed regularly throughout their time at school. Developing skills in numeracy will increase opportunities for all young people in the world of work, enhancing employability prospects and life chances.
(http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/Images/FactfileNumeracyAcrossLearning_tcm4-660305.pdf)