It adds up to success! (From Barry And District News)

It adds up to success!

12:51pm Tuesday 12th February 2008 in News

VOLUNTEERS from the Dow Corning site in Barry are taking to the school corridors over the next few weeks to help maths students make sense of their sums.

This unique maths mentoring scheme run by Dow Corning runs for ten weeks, and started at the end of January.

Now in its fourth year, the scheme will see employees from the company give up some of their work time to help out at the four local secondary schools in Barry - Bro Morgannwg, Bryn Hafren Comprehensive, Barry Comprehensive and St Richard Gwyn R/C High School.

The scheme will support mainly Year 8 students.

Volunteers from Dow Corning, from all levels of the organisation, will mentor the students once a week throughout the ten week period.

They will provide students with extra tuition and listen to any concerns and worries that they may have with mathematics, with the aim of putting the subject into context and illustrate its importance through every day life.

The scheme also involves the students making a visit to the Dow Corning site in Barry, to see where their mentors work and how they use mathematics in their work routine.

Since it started, the scheme has proven a real success amongst local schools.

Teachers have found that students have responded to the mentoring sessions with great enthusiasm and have become more confident in mathematics. Some have even gained accredited Key Skills from being mentored.

Lind Lloyd of Bryn Hafren Comprehensive said: "Both the students and teachers at the school welcome the scheme.

"The students in particular really enjoy getting involved in the mentoring sessions. It offers a different approach to the study of mathematics away from the normal classroom environment.

"We are delighted to be involved again this year."

Careers Wales and the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Maths Adviser have supported the scheme since its inception, providing training and support for the mentors.

Jonathan Coldman, community relations co-ordinator at Dow Corning said: "We are very happy to see that the scheme is still popular four years in.

"A lot of work goes into the project at the schools, and their commitment is invaluable to the overall success.

"Maths mentoring in this way is, we believe, unique to Wales - and we have enjoyed helping students develop a greater confidence in mathematics over the years through this scheme.

"I'm sure that this year's project will again prove successful and hope that it will continue to grow in years to come."