The beginning of a new school year is full of opportunities. Students come back ready for a fresh start, and teachers are eager to lay the groundwork for meaningful learning. Yet, maths often struggles to ignite excitement. Instead, it carries the baggage of misconceptions—“it’s too hard,” “it’s boring,” or “I’ll never use this in real life.”

As school leaders, your role is pivotal in reshaping these perceptions. How do we help students see maths not as a subject to endure but as one to explore and enjoy? By starting the year with intentional strategies to combat poor perceptions of maths, we can create classrooms where students are motivated and engaged right from the start.

Tackling poor perceptions of maths

Maths is often seen as an intimidating subject. Many students believe they’re either “good at maths” or they’re not, and if they fall into the latter category, they may approach the subject with fear or frustration. These attitudes don’t develop overnight—they stem from years of experiences where students felt confused, unsupported, or disconnected from the material.

To change this mindset, we need to start at the beginning of the school year with a positive, inclusive approach. Students need to see that maths is a skill they can grow with effort and support, not an innate ability they either have or don’t. This is where school leadership makes all the difference.

Encourage your teachers to frame maths as a subject full of possibilities. Lessons should highlight how maths connects to real life—whether through designing a budget, analysing sports stats, or solving real-world problems. When students understand the relevance of what they’re learning, they’re more likely to invest in the process.

It’s also important to focus on small, early wins. By starting with achievable goals, students can build their confidence and shift their perspective. When a student begins the year with a sense of success in maths, it sets the tone for continued engagement and effort.

Building a culture of maths enthusiasm

Changing how students see maths isn’t just the responsibility of individual teachers—it requires a school-wide effort to create a culture that values and celebrates the subject. As a school leader, you can lead the way by ensuring maths is positioned as an essential and exciting part of the learning journey.

This starts by recognising and celebrating success. When students achieve milestones, whether they’re small victories or major breakthroughs, take the time to acknowledge them. School assemblies, newsletters, and classroom shout-outs are great ways to make maths achievements visible and valued.

Supporting your teachers is another critical element. Equipping them with high-quality teaching resources, access to professional learning, and the time they need to deliver engaging lessons ensures they feel empowered to create a positive maths experience. When teachers feel supported, they’re better able to support their students.

Finally, consider how you can involve families in the process. Maths nights or parent workshops can demystify the subject and give families tools to help their children succeed. When parents understand how maths is taught and why it’s relevant, they can reinforce positive attitudes at home.

Engaging students in the classroom

Creating excitement about maths requires more than just a cultural shift—it also depends on what happens in the classroom. Students need to see maths as both relevant and achievable, and they need to feel that their individual needs are being met.

Relevance is key. When students understand how maths applies to their interests and their world, they’re more likely to engage. For example, a project analysing data from social media trends or designing a community garden budget can make abstract concepts tangible and meaningful.

At the same time, differentiation is essential. Every student enters the year with different levels of understanding, and trying to teach everyone the same content in the same way often leaves some students behind while others aren’t challenged. Personalised learning ensures that students can work at their own level, building the skills they need while still progressing through the curriculum.

Finally, confidence is critical. Students who believe they can succeed in maths are more likely to put in the effort required. Teachers can foster this confidence by identifying and addressing learning gaps early, ensuring that students have the foundational knowledge they need to tackle new material.

How Instructive can help

While creating an engaging maths experience is vital, it’s not without its challenges. That’s where Instructive comes in. Designed with input from over 10,000 teachers and 13 years of experience with maths education, instructive is the tool schools need to inspire excitement and success in maths.

Instructive combines the best of personalised learning and explicit teaching. It uses detailed diagnostics to identify what students know and what they need to learn, creating a tailored learning path for every student. At the same time, it provides teachers with high-quality resources and teaching strategies that align with the curriculum, saving time and boosting confidence.

The program’s real-world focus helps students see the relevance of maths, with activities and resources that show how maths applies to their lives. Whether it’s through problem-solving tasks or engaging projects, students are encouraged to explore the “why” behind the numbers.

Instructive also empowers teachers. By simplifying lesson planning and providing classroom-ready materials, it allows educators to focus on teaching and building relationships with their students. And the results speak for themselves: schools using instructive report students achieving 50% more progress in maths each year, with increased confidence and readiness for senior subjects.

Setting the tone for success

As a school leader, you have the power to shape how your students and staff approach maths. By fostering a positive culture, supporting your teachers, and providing tools like Instructive, you can ensure your school is ready for a successful year of learning.

This year, let’s make maths the subject that students look forward to. With the right strategies and resources, we can build classrooms where every student feels confident, engaged, and excited to learn.To learn more about how instructive can transform your school’s maths program, visit instructive.co. Together, let’s make maths a subject students love to explore.