A Parent

Jenny Bladen-Towning, a parent, took the time to submit the following personal account which touched us all.

I just wanted to express my thanks to you for organising tonight's very enjoyable Maths evening , I also wanted to share with you the "Eureka" moment I had tonight during Ray Maher's talk.

Up until tonight I have spent my whole life believing I had some sort of mental defect when it came to Maths, I failed my GCSE 3 times and even though up until the age of about 8, I was pretty good at Maths after that I have spent the rest of my life habitually failing in the subject. In fact it has filled me with horror and confusion, always in the top band for every other subject I have always despaired at the way the mind goes foggy and blank and the way panic sets in whenever I face anything numerical.

Just a few weeks ago I decided to face my Maths demon and start studying for Numeracy level two in order to go on to the GCSE, my motivation being Alfie as he appears to be rather adept at it and I felt I needed to overcome my life long struggle with it in order to support him, I was even going to get myself tested for Dyslexia.

However during Ray's talk tonight the penny finally dropped, I was supported heavily by my grandmother through my school life, she was educated by Nuns and died last year at the age of 93, the formula's for working things out in your head, counting back and forward these where the the techniques she taught me, I remember arguing with her when she would try and teach me one way at home and I would say but the school says to do it this way! I have never understood the way I was taught Maths at School, I have always failed because I could never show my workings out or understand why you needed to put calculations in bus stops and why nothing was ever explained and I have always failed because of this.

I have spent the 33 years believing I was a failure at Maths, I have felt baffled and ashamed many times, by the way my mind freezes. Tonight I have understood why, it isn't me, it was the teaching methods used at the time and it all makes sense now, I no longer need to face the subject with anguish and I am sure I will finally be able to succeed at it.

As Teachers you understand the gift and power of Education, I too was taught this by Grandmother, I just wanted you to know that tonight your commitment has not only helped the pupils of your School but also at least one parent overcome their struggle.

Mr Maher and St Agatha's, Thank You! Jenny Bladen St Agatha's