A new partnership will see the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) support young people in further education with maths for the very first time.
The charity, which is based in Gloucestershire and is powered by the proceeds of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), has agreed a partnership with MEI and will reach tens of thousands of students across the UK with their Further Education Maths Challenge programme.
The national challenge is open any student in 16-19 education (or in the case of an EHCP, aged up to 25) who is yet to achieve a grade 4 or above in GCSE Mathematics and after launching nationally in 2021, the programme has gone on to involve 10 regional centres, over 80 colleges, and more than 40,000 students, with teams from across England and Wales participating. The competition culminates in regional finals held at colleges, universities and sports stadiums.
Following the success of RIAT in recent years, the event’s parent charity has been able to establish itself as a leading funder and convener for STEM in the UK. The RAFCT aims to inspire young people to reach their full potential in STEM and this latest partnership is a welcome addition to the organisation’s work, explains Head of Charity Development at RAFCT, Hannah Langford
“The Further Education Maths Challenge is the first maths focused programme for the RAFCT, as well as being the first time the Charity has focused on the further education sector,” she said.
“Maths is an essential skill for everyday life, as well as for careers. The RAFCT is committed to helping young people build their confidence and develop the essential skills they need to unlock their full potential, and the FEMC offers a unique opportunity to open doors for 16-19 year olds and to help them to rediscover the joy in maths.”
The RAFCT has reached more than 780,000 young people with STEM educational engagements since 2022, including its flagship Road to RIAT programme which reaches more 600 primary schools, and other partnerships including its support for Safer Internet Day with Tech She Can.
A spokesperson for MEI said: “We are delighted to announce that the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) will be supporting the Further Education Maths Challenge (FEMC) for the first time this year.
“The FE Maths Challenge is a national competition designed to celebrate the achievements of post-16 students who are working to improve their mathematical skills.
“Through a series of engaging, team-based problem-solving rounds, the FEMC helps students develop mathematical confidence, resilience and collaboration skills, while showing how maths connects to the real world.
To learn more about the challenge, visit www.mei.org.uk.
