National Numeracy The National Numeracy Challenge Youth Employment

National Numeracy & The National Numeracy Challenge Youth Employment Conference 13 th May 2014 Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 1

The landscape: England 17 million adults (49% working age population) at levels expected of children at primary school 78% of adults in England are working below L 2 (A*-C at GCSE) Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 2

The landscape: the UK Across the UK c. 3/4 of the adult population are working at a level below the minimum expected standard of school leavers Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 3

Literacy levels have improved, numeracy levels have declined… Adults with Skills Equivalent to ‘C’ or Above at GCSE in England Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 4

Poor Numeracy Costs the Nation A team of PBE volunteers took on this research challenge, producing analysis that puts, as its central, conservative estimate, the cost to the UK of poor adult numeracy at £ 20. 2 billion per year (or about 1. 3% of GDP).

OECD - PIAAC 2013 The impact of good numeracy ‘Good numeracy is the best protection against unemployment, low wages and poor health’ odds ratio Andreas Schleicher OECD 2 nd Dec 2013 Likelihood of Positive Social and Economic Outcomes Among Highly Proficient Adults Literacy Numeracy “good” to “excellent” health Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved being employed high levels of trust participation in volunteer activities high levels of political efficacy high wages 6

Our vision: to change this cycle… Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 7

Being numerate – it is more than knowledge… Being Numerate is knowing what to do with the tools… …so that you can use quantitative information to make good decisions Our Essentials of Numeracy Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 8

Attitudes and building ‘mathematical resilience’… Understand the value of maths in everyday life. Recognise the benefits of improving numeracy. Ability is not fixed. Develop a ‘can-do’ attitude. Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved Recognise that everyone struggles in order to succeed - its part of the learning process. 9

The National Numeracy Challenge – 1 million adults over next 5 years… 1. A challenge to the UK to: v Change attitudes v Improve numeracy levels of the 78% below equivalent of ‘C’ at GCSE 2. A challenge to: Employers & Unions Adult education bodies Community organisations Individuals to work with us to effect this change. 3. An interactive website designed to: v assess an adult’s everyday maths skills v provide a suite of learning which will improve their skills and confidence and track their progress Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 10

The Challenge journey Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 11

Some of the Challenge partners Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 12

The Challenge Online: a learning process Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 13

Challenge Champions They will: § promote the Challenge and encourage wider takeup § act as first point of contact § encourage and support participants … supporting: § learners within their organisation or within the community § National Numeracy in promoting the Challenge across the UK Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 14

The Challenge Online Progress Some data into user activity on the Challenge Online 31, 688 20, 273

Working with BIT Established: § A new Research Centre for Numeracy and Literacy … to explore: § Behavioural and pedagogical ‘nudges’ to support numeracy and build resilience § Deploying the EAST (Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely) methodology § Using analysis of Challenge data - both regression + RCTs Copyright © National Numeracy 2014. All right reserved 16

http: //www. nationalnumeracy. org. uk/ Thank you Email: Tweet: enquiries@nationalnumeracy. org. uk @nat_numeracy mike@nationalnumeracy. org. uk Or @mike. Nat. Numeracy