Making Maths Shine at HMP Altcourse: Creative Learning in Action

At HMP Altcourse, Novus learners recently took part in an inspiring creative maths project that proved learning can be both practical and enjoyable. The Making Maths project, delivered by Novus in partnership with local artist Becky Bryson, encouraged learners to use their maths skills in a hands-on way by designing and building their own animal-themed lanterns.

The aim was simple – to make maths meaningful, engaging, and relevant. By bringing creativity into the classroom, learners were able to apply mathematical concepts such as measuring, scaling, symmetry, and budgeting, all while developing key employability skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

Bringing Maths to Life

The project was led by freelance Community Artist Becky Bryson, who has extensive experience in large-scale artworks, puppetry, and parade-making. Over the course of a week, two groups of learners took part in a series of fun and interactive workshops. Each session built on the last, helping learners take their designs from early sketches through to fully constructed lanterns.

The process began with an introduction to the project and a discussion about how maths links to real-life employability skills such as budgeting and planning. Learners then moved on to the design stage, creating symmetrical animal head designs on graph paper before scaling them up to full size. During construction, they used practical maths skills to measure, cut, and build the lantern frameworks, learning about shape, scale, and structure along the way. Finally, they covered and decorated their lanterns, applying concepts such as perimeter and area while reflecting on their progress and achievements.

A Creative Way to Learn Maths

The Making Maths project delivered impressive outcomes across learning, employability, and personal development. Learners demonstrated real understanding and application of key maths concepts in a practical setting. They also improved their ability to collaborate, communicate, and manage time effectively – skills that are highly valuable both in education and the workplace.

Importantly, the creative and supportive environment helped learners build confidence, take pride in their work, and see maths in a completely new light. For many, it was an opportunity to experience success in a subject they may have previously found challenging.

Positive Feedback and Impressive Results

Becky Bryson praised the learners for their enthusiasm and dedication, saying:
“Overall, the men were engaged and enthusiastic. A few who stood out were some of the younger participants, particularly R, C, and Re, who showed real perseverance even when they found the process frustrating. Re collaborated brilliantly with another learner, creating a fantastic wolf head. C worked independently with great care and attention to detail, and R quickly developed the confidence to succeed. L also deserves a mention for his positive attitude, encouraging others and helping to create a supportive atmosphere. I was really impressed with the level of commitment and quality of work the men put into completing their lanterns.”

Maths Teacher Dave Pattullo echoed this, adding:

“The enrichment project with local artist Becky Bryson was a highly engaging and rewarding experience for the learners. Over four sessions, they applied a range of maths skills, including measuring, scaling, and working with shapes and proportions, to design and construct willow lanterns. Engagement levels were excellent, and learners showed real pride and achievement in seeing their lanterns displayed in the visits hall. The project successfully combined practical maths with hands-on creativity, helping to build confidence, collaboration, and ownership of learning.”

A Lasting Legacy

The finished lanterns are now proudly displayed at HMP Altcourse, serving as a reminder of the learners’ creativity, hard work, and success. They also stand as a testament to how Novus continues to transform education in prisons by making learning relevant, inspiring, and accessible to all.

The Making Maths project shows that when creativity meets education, learners can discover new ways to engage, achieve, and shine, proving that maths really can light the way to brighter futures. For more information on how we provide functional skills including maths, visit our what we do page.