A local after-school maths programme has achieved a record number of club bookings in its opening two months following support from St Helens Chamber.
Former head teacher Brian Banks saw his Magical Maths franchise reach over 100 club bookings between May and June 2015.
The Magical Maths clubs teach youngsters how to get their head around maths in fun and unusual ways. They offer a series of afterschool maths programmes and assemblies for Key Stages 1 and 2 featuring a series of entertaining characters and exciting magic tricks.
Former head teacher Brian, started the business with support of St Helens Chamber’s business start-up team and the New Enterprise Allowance, a package of government support worth up to £2000 to unemployed people who want to start their own business.
Brian says: “The support I received from the Chamber was invaluable during my set up period. Adrian and his team provided me with much-needed advice and guidance that enabled me to take the leap into setting up my own business.”
Each maths club runs for six 1 hour after school sessions over a period of six weeks and each week the clubs have a different theme and feature different characters. One week children might meet Professor Poopenshtinken the maths genius and others they will encounter The Maths Detective, The Mathemagician and The Olympic Mathletes.
Ian Rimmer, Headteacher at Nutgrove Primary School in St Helens, says: “Magical Maths has really brought maths alive for the children who have attended the after-school sessions. The novel approach really engages children’s interest. It has further aroused our children’s curiosity to pay with numbers with a greater level of confidence and enjoy maths in new ways. Keep it up, Professor Poopenshtinken. You know it adds up!”
With 175 schools in the area Brian is excited at the prospect of running a Magical Maths Clubs in growing numbers of schools in the coming years. He’s passionate about helping children learn to love maths and aims to help over 2000 children in the region during the next academic year.
Brian says: “My Magical Maths franchise would not have been able to grow so fast without the funding for promotional materials necessary to market and promote the business. Now that we’re up and running I’m still working with the Chamber to ensure continued growth. ”
Adrian Ellis, Business Start-up Manager at St Helens Chamber, said: “Our business start-up service offers free, impartial advice and support to people thinking of starting a business.
“Our team of experienced business advisers are working with an incredibly diverse range of new ventures across St Helens and Merseyside, which is very encouraging for the local economy.”
