Sometimes the most powerful school transformations start small. At Holy Family Catholic School, it began with a group of Year 5 and 6 girls who were bright, capable, and quietly falling behind in Maths. What happened next is a story worth telling.
The Challenge: Bright Pupils, Low Confidence, and a Fear of Failure
Staff at Holy Family had identified a group of high-potential girls in Years 5 and 6 who were underperforming in Maths. The issue wasn't ability — it was confidence. These were pupils who gave up when answers didn't come quickly, who became frustrated under pressure, and for whom the anxiety around Maths had become a real barrier to achievement.
With Year 6 SATs on the horizon, the clock was ticking.
The Approach: Start with a Trial, Build to a Whole-School Programme
The school began by exploring Teach Active's free sample lesson plans before committing fully — and what they found was promising enough to bring in Jon Smedley, Teach Active's founder and former primary teacher, to lead staff training in person. The whole workforce was impressed with its potential.
Working alongside the Maths Coordinator, dedicated timetable slots were created for the Year 5 and 6 intervention group, built around a simple but powerful mantra: fun, challenge, action, learn.
The results from that first trial group were so strong that Teach Active was subsequently rolled out across the entire school, with every teacher committing to at least one cross-curricular active learning session per week.
The Impact on Pupils: From "I Can't" to "I Can"
The shift in attitude was the first thing staff noticed. The anxiety that had surrounded Maths lessons began to lift. Children who had previously disengaged were arriving enthusiastically, working hard — and not even fully registering how much they were achieving.
Gone is the "I can't" attitude, replaced by pupils thinking problems through logically, working collaboratively, and applying what they'd learned in active sessions back to the classroom.
Perhaps the most remarkable individual story is that of April, a Year 6 girl who had been struggling significantly with Maths despite being academically capable. A keen netballer and drama enthusiast, April had developed real anxiety around the subject. Teach Active gave staff a way in — engaging her practically, rebuilding her confidence, and unlocking her potential.
The Impact on Staff
The benefits weren't limited to the pupils. Teachers found that Teach Active gave them the freedom to be creative without overhauling their fundamental teaching style — a crucial factor in genuine, sustainable adoption. Teaching Assistants grew in confidence too, taking ownership of active intervention groups independently.
As the school noted, one of the most practical advantages is that every lesson plan uses equipment already in the PE store cupboard. No budget. No faff. Just great learning.
What the Headteacher Says
"I love the fact children are proactively channelling their natural competitiveness into Maths challenges. They are often learning so many Maths concepts without realising they're doing Maths. It's fabulous to see so many smiling faces and an increase in achievement in the subject." — Steve Tindall, Headteacher
A Message to Schools Just Getting Started
The team at Holy Family have a clear message for schools considering the active learning approach for the first time: you don't have to go all in straight away. Start with one year group or a booster group, and let the impact do the talking.
Want to see what Teach Active could do for your school? Explore our free resources or book a demo with our team — no commitment, just a conversation.