STRUGGLING to do subtraction?

Maybe what you need is a magic wand and a spell to chant - something like 'numerus subtracticus', perhaps.

That's not how maths is taught in Singapore, but a dash of Potter 'magic' has helped a primary school in Nottinghamshire, England, rise from being a bottom-ranked school to a top-ranked one.

Robert Mellors Primary and Nursery school introduced elements from JK Rowling's best-selling books to its 7- to 11-year-old pupils, reported the Daily Mail.

FROM BOTTOM TO TOP

The result: The school, formerly in the bottom 25 per cent nationwide is now in the top 6 per cent.

Its pupils' behaviour also improved, said the report.

In class, Potter-motivated pupils do things like:

• Write their own plays based on the Harry Potter series of books.
• Learn balance and co-ordination by pretending to get on and off an imaginary broomstick.
• Discuss flying broomsticks before learning about the history of flight and aviation.
• Create music to reflect Hogwarts (Harry Potter's school) at night.

Using percussion instruments, the children made appropriately spooky sounds, said the report.

Harry Potter-influenced lessons are just one of the themes introduced by the school in the past three years.

Other themes include the Titanic, Princes and Princesses, and Africa. All were chosen by the students.

A report on the school noted that now, 'pupils are enthusiastic' about maths and 'particularly enjoy practical tasks'.

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