St Ives School Celebrates Completion of EEF Peer to Peer Maths Coaching Trial

St Ives School Celebrates Completion of EEF Peer‑to‑Peer Maths Coaching Trial as Mullion School Begins Their Journey

Students and staff at St Ives School are today celebrating the successful completion of the Education Endowment Foundation’s Peer‑to‑Peer Coaching Trial. To mark the culmination of their hard work, participating pupils were invited to Plymouth University for a day of celebration and exploration. They took part in workshops, experienced elements of university life, and were each presented with a certificate recognising their dedication and engagement throughout the project.

The trial has provided St Ives pupils with valuable opportunities to deepen their mathematical understanding, strengthen problem‑solving skills, and build confidence through structured collaboration. The experience has also supported staff in refining approaches that help pupils secure the essential foundations required for long‑term success in mathematics.

Simon Horner, Headteacher at St Ives School, said:
“Our involvement in this EEF coaching trial has been a real privilege. Watching our Year 10 students step up as mentors — showing empathy, patience, and real strength in their communication — has been inspiring. Our Year 7 students have grown in confidence, engagement and enjoyment of mathematics, but equally importantly, they have developed a stronger sense of belonging and feeling that they truly matter here at school. This project has strengthened relationships across year groups and shown the power of young people supporting one another. The fact that the students have had the opportunity to travel to Plymouth University to celebrate their achievements is the icing on the cake.”

Meanwhile, Mullion School is preparing to embark on the same EEF trial, and staff and students are excited to begin this important work. As a Trust, we look forward to supporting them through the process and celebrating their achievements in the months ahead.

At Truro and Penwith Academy Trust, ensuring that every pupil secures strong mathematical foundations is a central priority. This project has highlighted the impact that evidence‑based, well‑designed professional approaches can have on helping pupils grow in confidence and competence. As a result, we are committed to developing and expanding this strand of work across our schools, with a focus on consistently high‑quality teaching and the core building blocks that underpin mathematical success.

Today’s event marks an important milestone—both for St Ives School and for the continued development of maths education across our Trust. With Mullion School just beginning their journey, this work represents an exciting and promising future for our pupils.