Potting balls on the green baize is proving a popular way to learn maths for students at two high schools.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils at Sheringham High School play snooker to aid with their maths skills. Martin Glover, 13, takes his shot. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPupils at Sheringham High School play snooker to aid with their maths skills. Martin Glover, 13, takes his shot. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

North Norfolk Academy Trust pupils are taking part in a 'cuezone' initiative which sees children who struggle with maths encouraged to take up snooker while improving their mental arithmetic at the same time.

Sheringham High School staff member Stuart Anderson said it was early days but it looked as if the project would be successful.

Many games could be devised by marking the balls with different numbers and functions, he explained.

'It could be getting them to work out who's acquired the highest score where you might have one ball marked 0.6 and another 'x7' he said.

Eastern Daily Press: Pupils at Sheringham High School play snooker to aid with their maths skills. Olivia Evans, 13, plans a shot watched by, from left, Joshua Houghton, 13, Jade Holloway, 14, and Rosie Burch, 13. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPupils at Sheringham High School play snooker to aid with their maths skills. Olivia Evans, 13, plans a shot watched by, from left, Joshua Houghton, 13, Jade Holloway, 14, and Rosie Burch, 13. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

'Or you might ask them to play down from 101 and work out which team manages to get to zero first.'

The school has two snooker tables set up on the stage, with scoring boards, and there are plans to start an after-school club, as well as playing snooker in lessons.

Sister trust school Stalham High has also introduced the snooker maths scheme, pioneered by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

Mr Richardson said: 'The students who have been involved so far have enjoyed the change of scenery from the classroom and even the lowest ability students have attempted to calculate their own scores, a challenge in the classroom.

'Some students switch off in class but faced with a sport like snooker they are attempting the maths without the realisation of what they're actually doing.'