There’s more of a buzz about learning now, says Richard Verity, assistant head at South Holderness technology college. Within two years, South Holderness has gone from an Ofsted notice to improve (2006) to “all areas satisfactory and some areas good” (2007).

Good news for maths teachers who feel hemmed in by keystage 3 tests and stifled by the Framework curriculum. Exciting new materials go into production this term (spring 2008). By September, every secondary school in the land will receive their free pack of 23 maths case studies, courtesy of charity the Bowland Trust.