Andrew Jeffrey - The Mathemagician
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Magic of Maths Show FAQs


Does this page cover anything other than the Magic of Maths shows?
No. Please use the contact button on the website if you need further information about Andrew’s coaching, products, INSET or conference speaking.

What age-range do the Magic of Maths Shows cater for?
There are different shows suitable for everyone from Reception to Adult.

How many children can watch a show?
Primary: If there is space I can gladly perform to a whole year group. Sometimes, in order to accommodate every child in a primary school, I can mix up to two year groups, but not more. This is to ensure that the content is pitched appropriately.
Secondary: In a secondary school, in a day I repeat the show for one year group which is split into 2 or three groups.


How many shows can take place in the day?
In a secondary school, either two or three shows, depending on whether the year group is split into halves or thirds.
In a Junior school, an hour-long show for years 3 and four and an hour-long show for years 5 and 6. If any one year group in a junior school is particularly large, in some circumstances it may be possible to do a third show just for them at no extra charge.
In a through-primary, it may even be possible to add a fourth show so that Reception children can also enjoy the Magic of Maths experience

How long is each show?
Reception: 30 mins
KS1: 45 mins
All others are 60 minutes long.

What is in the shows?
The shows feature professional magic tricks (Andrew is both a teacher and a professional magician) all of which either work by mathematics or which address some aspect of the children’s learning. The shows aim to raise confidence and understanding in mathematics, and are designed to meet the needs of those who love maths and those who are more reluctant to engage with it. There is a mixture of humour, bafflement, explanations, and audience participation, with members of the audience coming up to help. There are tricks with numbers, tricks with shape, money, mind-reading, illusions, and more. Some tricks are revealed, others are not. The show covers aspects of the National Curriculum for mathematics, including number, shape and space, algebra (in y6 and above) and more.

What is in the ‘Magic for Kids’ book?
This is a book for children who love magic. It contains lots of easy-to-do tricks, most of which work by mathematics. So children will be enjoying performing magic and doing maths for fun into the bargain. The school receives a free copy, and also gets £1 per copy ordered as a ‘thank-you’.

Do children need to see the show to read the book (or vice versa?)
Absolutely not. Although some tricks from the book sometimes appear in the show, the book is designed as a stand-alone guide to help children perform their own tricks.

How much does it cost?
A visit in the UK costs £500 for the day, plus travel at cost. This is either 40ppm (from BN2 8HS) or the cost of public transport. If an overnight stay away from home is required, there is a £100 surcharge. There are NO hidden extras, and the fee is reduced by £1 per book ordered (as explained above). Please email for details of overseas fees.

Is there a deposit required?
No. An invoice is sent well in advance as part of the information pack (see the ‘What do schools receive?’ section) and only needs to be paid on or before the day of the visit. Payment can be made by cheque or BACS.

Can the show be performed anywhere in the world?
Pretty much, but some places are too far to come for a single day so I might ask for a two day booking or for two nearby schools to book adjacent days, which halves the travel expenses. For example, several secondary schools use one day for one of their own year groups, and the second day for their feeder schools.

Can we have a discount for multiple days?
Yes. There is a £50 discount for bookings of two consecutive days. If two schools that are near each other each book adjacent days, they both receive a £50 discount. This discount only applies in the UK.

What do schools receive?
All schools booking a show receive a welcome pack well in advance of the visit. This contains a letter to give parents, a link to a downloadable Word version of the letter, a free copy of Magic for Kids, some flyers, posters, a checklist and an invoice.

Are there any teachers’ notes provided?
Yes. On the day of the visit, schools will receive more free materials, including some teachers’ notes from the show, and free copies of several of Andrew’s books, including ‘100 Top Tips for Top Teachers’, ‘Cool Calm and Calculating’ and ‘Top Twenty Maths Displays’. There will also be an evaluation form.

What do we need to provide?
Usually very little. A hall, a flipchart (for Y5 upwards), a microphone on a stand, and a jug of water are all that is needed – everything else is provided. If travelling by car, a parking space as near to the performance area as possible.

Can we also have some INSET training for staff?
Yes, but it is not usually practical on the same day.

What about delivering parents’ evenings?
Absolutely, and this can be done on the same day. There is an extra charge, but it is cost-effective as there are obviously no extra travel costs involved.

How far ahead should we book?
It is hard to say as the booking system is ‘first-come, first-served.’ Some months such as June and July get booked up very quickly, but generally booking one to two terms in advance usually guarantees that your preferred date will be available.

Can we take pictures for our own publicity/OFSTED/Local Press?
Yes, but strictly no video or audio recording is permitted.

Can we find out what other schools thought about the Magic of Maths shows?
Of course. Visit www.andrewjeffrey.co.uk/testimonials.asp to see a selection of genuine comments.

What about CRB clearance and Insurance?
Andrew has full enhanced CRB clearance, and £15 million of professional indemnity insurance through membership of Equity. Certificates are available to view on request if required.