Mathematics for Year 7 and 8 mention percentages in association with fractions, decimals and ratios. Year 7 and 8 content descriptors are underpinned by similar descriptors for Year 6. This hands-on session uses manipulative-based tasks to help build a conceptual understanding of percentages and how they are linked to other ideas. We also use tasks where the mathematics is contextualized. We contend that students need to understand percentages (the ‘journey’) before they can successfully use them (the ‘destination’). Conceptual understanding needs to be developed rather than applying ‘conversion’ in a procedural and mechanical way.