BOLTON's new Mr Maths and Mrs Maths meet local primary pupils as they start work on helping schools chalk up exam success. The two numeracy supremos have been given the job of making sure maths lessons in local schools add up to test passes in numeracy for Bolton youngsters. Mr Maths, Peter Dickinson, and Mrs Maths, Sue Nicholson, have the difficult task of making sure that 75pc of Bolton 11-year-olds are doing sums for their age by 2002.

Currently around 60pc of pupils from local primaries are achieving the standard before starting secondary school, a fraction above the national average.

But the two new recruits are confident the government's new numeracy strategy to be introduced into all schools this September, will help teachers achieve the giant leap in classroom standards demanded by education secretary David Blunkett.

Mr Dickinson saw the benefits of the daily 45 minute maths sessions first hand when he helped introduce them into classrooms in neighbouring Wigan where the new approach was tested for the Government.

He disapproves of the "Back to Basics" labelling of the new lessons but does believe the new emphasis on mental arithmetic and getting children to talk about how they worked out their answers can aid understanding.

Parents

Mr Dickinson added: "Teachers like the numeracy strategy because it makes it quite clear what they need to be teaching and what they can expect from the kids. Children like the pace which is much greater than in some schools at present."

Both numeracy consultants are convinced that they have nearly won the battle for the hearts and minds of children but need to persuade parents that Maths is not difficult or dull if they are to raise standards in Bolton schools.

Parents are a vital part of the formula because they need to be positive about the subject to encourage their children and know how to help them with their homework.

But former Tottington South Primary Deputy Head Mrs Nicholson said: "I do not think children today dread Maths any more because of the way it is taught. But we have to get over to the parents of the present generation that the mystique and fear is not there with the children and it is not the frightening unknown some parents think it is."

Leaflets and family numeracy courses are planned to help parents but the bulk of the £280,000 budget for next year will be used to train teachers and help schools prepare for the new maths lessons.

Education chiefs have given Bolton schools a head start in the race to improve standards by digging into their pockets to take on the numeracy consultants a term ahead of Government cash to pay the wages of a national army of maths supremos. Many schools in Bolton have already adopted some of the methods in the national strategy.

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