NRICH launches new Problem-Solving Schools initiative

Our NRICH programme has launched a new initiative to help schools prioritise problem-solving in maths. The NRICH Problem-Solving Schools programme will offer free resources, advice and teacher professional development training. 

Problem-solving is a critical skill when it comes to empowering students for the future. It opens up a world of possibilities as students have to apply their knowledge, think laterally and use their creativity to solve challenges. Problem-solving is also a crucial part of helping students to discover the joy of mathematics. "Imagine only engaging with football through practice drills and never seeing Messi score, or learning music through scales and never hearing an orchestra play," say the NRICH team.

For over 25 years NRICH has been at the forefront of developing mathematical problem-solving resources, reaching millions of users each year through the free NRICH website. The Problem-Solving Schools programme builds on this expertise and experience in supporting schools, teachers and students to help schools embed problem-solving in the curriculum.

Along with fluency and reasoning, problem-solving is central to the National Curriculum for maths, and the launch of NRICH's Problem-Solving Schools programme offers timely additional support for schools. A new report published by Ofsted in July 2023 encourages schools to focus more consistently on teaching problem-solving, and ensure that all students have opportunities to practise applying their knowledge in a range of problem-solving contexts.

To find out more about the programme, and how to register your school, see the NRICH Problem-Solving Schools information.

You can read more about the Problem-Solving Schools initiative in this University of Cambridge news story.