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Mathematics In Real Life
To mark the arrival of Cucina, Valley Park’s new catering providers, the Mathematics Department have been helping students in Years 7 – 11 learn about budgeting.
After our new debit card system was implemented to pay for food in the restaurant, students were taught to plan their school lunches for a week, budgeting an allocated amount of money, ensuring that they did not overspend.
It seems that our students can be very thrifty: Many of them are saving money to treat themselves on a Friday, or even to buy something really nice at the end of term!
Students have learnt about different types of taxes, such as income tax and National Insurance, as well as how to complete a payslip. They’ve budgeted for everyday life, including renting a property, paying the bills and travelling to and from work. It’s given them a valuable insight into their future as young adults.
They’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning how to budget their money, and feel more confident in how to use Mathematics in their everyday lives.
‘I’ve really enjoyed finding out about all the expenses I will have when I move out of home,’ said one student. ‘I didn’t realise there was so many taxes and bills to pay!’
‘I really need to get a good job when I leave school,’ said another. ‘I didn’t realise everything was so expensive, or that Maths could be this interesting.’
Not only have students been practicing their maths skills, they’ve also been learning what life will be like when they move out of the family home to start their careers. The Mathematics Department have thoroughly enjoyed showing our students some practical and real-life applications of mathematics, which has sparked their curiosity and confidence.
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