St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham, part of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, has been celebrating Number Confidence Week by helping pupils develop practical money skills and build confidence with numbers in meaningful, everyday contexts.
Feeling good with numbers can make a real difference in how we manage money, and this themed week offered pupils across the school the chance to experience this first hand.
Children in the early years classes took part in running a daily snack shop. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 organised their own cake sale, buying and selling to the rest of the school. Older pupils in Year 6 explored budgeting and financial decision making, learning how maths plays a vital role in managing real life situations.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is committed to developing confident, enthusiastic mathematicians through an approach that helps every child enjoy maths and understand its relevance in the wider world. Pupils are encouraged to think independently, reason mathematically and solve problems.
The government’s recent curriculum assessment review has stated that financial literacy will become compulsory for all primary pupils across the country. This recognises how important it is for children to understand money from an early age. St Mary’s is already ahead of the curve, with pupils developing the confidence and understanding that the new national expectations aim to achieve.
Lucy Buckland, headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, said, “Our pupils have loved getting hands on with maths. Giving children real experiences helps them understand how numbers shape everyday life, from budgeting to buying. I am so proud of how confidently they have embraced these challenges and how much enjoyment they have found in learning.”
Helen Taylor, CEO of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, added, “Number Confidence Week is the perfect example of how St Mary’s brings learning to life. The focus on real world money skills helps children gain confidence that will support them far beyond the classroom. It is wonderful to see pupils so engaged and empowered through meaningful, practical learning.”
