Building on Very Local Maths (2024-2025),we are bringing together young people, researchers, and community and cultural partners to co-develop resources that support inclusive mathematical engagement beyond school.
Mathematics plays an important role in young people’s educational trajectories and future opportunities. But persistent inequalities remain in attainment and participation. The Review of Mathematics Education (RoME, 2025) highlights enduring disparities in young people’s attainment and participation in mathematics. Only 1 in 8 high attainers come from the most deprived quintile – with less than 20% from this quintile participating in post 16 mathematics.
This project is a collaboration between University of Manchester, MathsWorldUK, and Sense SEND Services to co-develop approaches that broaden opportunities for young people to engage with mathematics outside school. It builds directly on the Very Local Maths project. In this new phase, we are continuing to work with some of the young people who took part in the 2024-2025 project while also welcoming new co-researchers. Our project aims to develop scalable resources to improve young people’s engagement through mathematics initiatives across the UK.
We are collaborating with a group of eight young people aged 14 to 17. Through this process, we aim to co-develop resources that start from and speak to young people’s lives, while documenting what we learn about designing and facilitating youth-led mathematics in community and cultural settings.
In October 2026, we are taking four workshops co-designed with the young people into public settings.
- On 17 October, we will share the workshops with families and visitors at the Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.
- On 26 and 27 October, will take the workshops to MathsCity in Leeds
