Research Context

Founded in 1831 by command of King William IV of England, The King’s School is Australia’s oldest independent day and boarding school. The school is located in Parramatta, the geographic and demographic heart of Greater Sydney. King’s was established as a boys’ school that would provide Australia with its next generation of leaders. Situated on 130 hectares, The King’s School comprises two campuses: The Preparatory School (Pre-K – 6) and The Senior School (Years 7 – 12). The total student population is 1600 students with 171 teaching staff. Within the Preparatory School there at approximately 420 students.

The Preparatory School prides itself on being an International Baccalaureate World School that utilises the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) in conjunction with the state (New South Wales) curriculum administered by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Each boy is encouraged and supported to discover and fulfil his unique potential within a balanced, boy-friendly program that nurtures the whole person – mind, body and soul. The school’s teaching resources, particularly for boys’ education, boarding, and the development of leadership skills, are used throughout the world. The King’s School mission statement is a “Christian community that seeks to make an outstanding impact for the good of society.”

Year 6 at The Prep School comprises a cohort of 78 boys. Mathematics is structured into three flexible, fluid groupings of high, middle and low ability students. This action research project focused on the advanced maths group, comprising 30 boys aged between 11-12 years with high academic achievement levels in Mathematics. Consent forms to participate in the project were returned, signed by all parents and students. The study was conducted over 10 weeks within normal classroom hours as part normal scheduled problems-solving lessons.