Year 8 students had the chance to put their maths skills into practice when they visited Southwell Racecourse for a maths in action day.
The visit on Thursday 1 October gave students the opportunity to take maths out of the classroom and see how it is used across the racing industry.
The day began in the weigh-in room, where students worked on converting between imperial measurements including stones, pounds and ounces.
They then headed to the parade ring, where trundle wheels were put to good use as students measured and calculated its perimeter before estimating how many horses could safely parade in the space.
As they explored the racecourse, students tackled more mathematical challenges, working with traditional racing measurements including furlongs, chains and miles. They also learnt about the clothing and equipment used by jockeys and how to interpret the information found on a racecard.
Alongside the maths, students discovered more about the history of horse racing, including the origins of steeplechasing and how early races used landmarks such as church steeples as reference points.
The trip was a great opportunity for students to take their learning beyond the classroom and use skills including measurement, conversion, estimation and problem-solving in a completely different setting.
A fantastic day of practical learning and a chance to see maths in action.
