SCHOOL students in the district are counting on football improving their mathematics grades.

Students at Parkside School are working with Sky Sports’ Living for Sport programme to launch an innovative classroom project combining maths and football. Former rugby international and Sky Sports’ mentor Paul Broadbent visited the Cullingworth school to kick-off the project with a day of workshops.

He reinforced the characteristics required to be a successful learner, then put soccer-mad students through their paces with a range of physical challenges.

The year 10 GCSE pupils will compete in a 5-a-side league, gathering data from their games to analyse in maths lessons, then applying the data and functional knowledge to their GCSE exam questions.

The pupils will also run a Gifted and Talented Maths championship for the Parkside feeder schools during the summer term.

Project leads Matt Barratt and Dave Russell said the project was challenging and exciting.

Deputy head Mr Barratt added: “It has personalised learning at its heart and allows the pupils to truly conceptualise the data they are gathering and analysing.”

Paul will return to Parkside to check on the students’ progress in the summer.