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A popular maths program has raised a $2.1m investment to change the way the crucial subject is taught in Australian schools.
Maths Pathway, co-founded by two teachers in 2013, has grown to be used in over 250 schools by more than 50,000 students. The program offers a variety of AITSL-aligned professional development opportunities for teachers that are grounded in the latest research into improving student mindsets, engagement and outcomes.
The investment round, announced last Thursday, was led by Social Ventures Australia (SVA) a not-for-profit organisation that invests in organisations that create meaningful social impact in Australia.
The $1m investment from SVA is the organisation’s first equity investment from its $15m SVA Diversified Impact Fund, which reached final close earlier this year.
The investment will be used to improve classroom outcomes through product improvements, driving student engagement through interactive content and providing teachers even greater access to student data and planning information.
Maths Pathway co-founder, Richard Wilson, said when seeking investment, it was shared values that drew the organisation to SVA.
“Results have shown students learn twice as fast with Maths Pathway,” Wilson said.
“Results such as this demonstrate Maths Pathway is a market catalyst influencing broader change in our education system to help students learn. SVA was just as concerned with creating systemic change as we are.”
Wilson said the typical year seven classroom has an eight-year spread of maths comprehension.
“In many classrooms across Australia, there may be students learning Year 4 multiplication tables and others learning year 10 algebra” he said.
Wilson said teachers struggle to manage lesson plans, assessments, and reporting, for such a wide range of learning in one classroom.
“Gone are the days of a teacher delivering content at the front of the classroom. Instead teachers can work with each student on an individual level, more regularly,” he said.
Chris Hill, numeracy coordinator of Epping Secondary College, is one educator who has been using Maths Pathway. He said he has completely shifted his classroom from being teacher-centered to student-centered.
“This has been a revelation and made life a lot easier. My exit rate is down to almost zero,” he said.
“Students are achieving more in less time and we now have lots of time to concentrate on problem solving.”
SVA executive director, Impact Investing Michael Lynch, said with Maths Pathway already making a big impact for schools, teachers and students, he’s excited to see its growth and maturity as a social purpose organisation.
“Maths Pathway is committed to improving the educational outcomes of the greatest possible number of Australian students,” he said.
“SVA’s $1m investment will help them to innovate the model, scale operations and work towards that goal. SVA is looking to invest in other great ed-tech and educational services, ready to take investment to scale their operations and social impact.”