Our year 11 maths learners were visited by Katie from Thames Water for an ELP about volume of cylinder and conversion of units. Katie helped our learners to better understand the application of volume of cylinders in real life industries. 

Katie is a systems planner from Thames Water. One of her job roles include measuring pipes and flow which uses skills found on the GCSE maths curriculum. 

The session began with a ‘Do Now’ activity on worded maths problems involving key skills surrounding cylinders, circumference, volume and area. The class discussed their answers and working out with Katie. They also covered other key skills; working together in groups to solve worded problems on speed, distance and time, density, mass and volume and pressure and force.  

Once learners had worked on these skills with our visitor, they were tasked to calculate the flow rate, the sizing of a tank and the sizing of a pipe. Working in groups, our year 11s had to think critically and determine what skills they had to apply in order to solve these worded problems. As a systems planner for Thames Water, Katie must make makes these calculations in order to complete her job. Learners benefitted from her real-life experience and perspective as they worked through the three tasks. 

‘I feel even more confident on the skills Katie covered in the ELP. It was interesting to see how these maths topics can be useful in real life,’ year 11 learner Aaron shared.  

We strive to provide opportunities where our learners can understand the value of the skills taught on the curriculum. ELP’s provide the learners with motivation to use these skills in both the classroom and as the next generation of industry leaders. 

‘The learners were really engaged and were able to see how their maths skills on finding volume and rate of flow can be used in a practical context of water/sewage flow in pipes.’ Andrea, Curriculum Lead Maths.