Numeracy at Bridgetown College

Overview

Numeracy is the ability to observe, explore and manipulate objects, and hear mathematical language. It involves using mathematical understanding and skills in a variety of contexts to describe, predict and explain phenomena, recognising the role that mathematics plays in the world. A numerate learner applies mathematical skills and makes the well-founded judgements and decisions needed by constructive, engaged, and reflective members of society. (Irelands Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Strategy, 2024 – 2033)

What do we mean by Numeracy?

Being able to manage family budgets – credit cards, offers at supermarkets etc.
Being able to estimate – in all kinds of situations, e.g. journey speed, time and distance, roughly how much a bill will be or your expected bank balance at the end of the month.
Being able to critically assess statistics used by advertisers or politicians.

Numeracy in Junior Cycle

Students continue their numeracy journey from the primary school in second level education. This is reflected through the inclusion of ‘’Being Numerate’ as a key skill of the junior cycle where it is intrinsic to the framework and all subject specifications.

Numeracy is more than just maths – it's the ability to use numbers and data in everyday life. At Junior Cycle, students develop their numeracy skills across all subjects, not just in Maths class. They learn how to work with numbers, read graphs and tables, measure accurately, and solve real-life problems.

The aim is to help students become confident in using numbers so they can make sense of the world around them – whether they're planning a journey, managing money, cooking a recipe, or analysing information. Strong numeracy skills support learning in every subject and are important for life beyond school.

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Numeracy in Senior Cycle

In senior cycle, numeracy is represented in the key skills, which support communication, problem solving, and accessing and selecting information. Numeracy is not limited to applying number, knowledge and skills. Rather, it is best described as critically understanding how mathematics is used in the real world, day-to-day life and being able to competently and flexibly apply it to make the best possible decisions. Numeracy in the post primary school means being able to:

Analyse patterns and relationships in information and ideas.
Use skills of investigation, reasoning and problem-solving.
Hypothesise and make predictions through the examination of evidence.
Analyse and make good arguments.
Access information from a range of sources and in different formats, gathering, interpreting, critiquing and representing data.
Express ideas mathematically.
Estimate, predict and calculate.
Adopt a positive disposition and attitude towards numeracy.
Link numeracy learning to experiences across the curriculum, in the real world and outside of school.

Parental Support

Most parents will encourage their child to take maths seriously and try and help in the best way they can. However, not everyone has a natural talent for maths and along with the different methods that are being used today it may be difficult at times to help your child with their work at home.

Even if maths is not your strongest subject there are still ways in which you can support your child. Family maths toolkit gives plenty of information and advice on supporting your child at home with their maths work. The website contains information on the following topics: