No to compulsory post-16 maths say 17 year olds
13 February 2017
In a large-scale survey of 17 year olds, over 80% of young people who didn’t take any post-16 maths said they were against it being made compulsory.
This is one of the findings of the REVAMP (Rethinking the Value of Advanced Mathematics Participation) report from the Nuffield Foundation, which analysed current and changing attitudes to, participation in, and value of A level mathematics.
The report highlights some important issues to address if the study of maths post 16 is to be made compulsory.
According to the report:
- The main driver of increased A Level maths participation is the rising number of A/A* grades at GCSE. Under reformed grading (9-1) at GCSE, students who would’ve achieved the top grades are now less likely to do so, meaning they will be less likely to go on to take A Level.
- The decoupling of A and AS Level could discourage advanced maths and further maths participation, particularly amongst girls.
- Any perceived increase in demand within the new A Level maths is likely to put young people off choosing the subject.
- School maths may not prepare students well for some undergraduate science disciplines.
The
Smith Review of post-16 maths has yet to be published.
Meanwhile, an Ofqual
report on school approaches to tiering in maths, predicts that the majority of schools will enter more students for foundation tier GCSE in summer 2017 than previously, due to the more demanding content which they felt made the higher tier too much of a stretch for some students who might previously have been entered for it.