When I went to my younger son’s parents evening the other 
day, the longest queue was to see the maths teacher. The reason was because she had to explain changes in the curriculum which are certainly not going to benefit James, and others like him.
Up until last year, maths GCSE was taught at three levels – higher, intermediate and foundation. My eldest son David passed the intermediate with a B grade – the top grade achievable. We shall never know if he could have reached an A.
It’s even worse now as the intermediate level has been scrapped, so you are either a top grade or bottom grade student. And James is in the middle, like thousands of other kids.
So this is where the pressure is on for teachers, kids and parents as a decision will be made later this term about which paper James sits next year. Many of the top grade students are already working on the higher level paper, so the chances are James will struggle to keep up with that class and it could cause him a lot of anxiety, so I have offered him private tuition with a neighbour who is a secondary school maths teacher.
If James takes the foundation paper, the top grade he can achieve is a level C. It will not motivate him at all, he will be working below his level.
So the maths teacher explained this over and over again to all the despairing parents, she kept blaming the government for introducing this flawed system which has no logic and nobody thinks is fair or workable. It is particularly letting down the kids who would like to work for a B grade, the ones who fit most comfortably in the intermediate group.
Crucially, having toured several universities with my elder son David, I noticed that they all required level B GCSE maths as a condition of acceptance on their courses. As many intermediate level kids will not now be able to achieve this, this could seriously scupper their university plans. It means a potential generation of kids failed by this ill thought out maths system, a core curriculum subject which should be inspiring, not demoralising, those who want to do their best and reach their full potential.
This is why I wholeheartedly welcome a forthcoming debate, The Value of Mathematics, with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and leading academics to mark the launch of Reform’s latest research paper which analyses the contribution of mathematics to the UK economy and how standards and attainment in maths education have changed over time.
The report also makes recommendations to increase the value of mathematics. The event will bring together key thinkers in the world of mathematics including policy makers, academics and business leaders and is being held on 2 June at the London Mathematical Society.
I hope some Labour education ministers have that date in their diary, that they will participate in this debate.
*I also believe our kids rely too much on calculators today instead of using their brains. I went into the pharmacy recently and bought three items which cost £1.98. The tills were not working and not one of the three assistants could work out my bill by using mental arithmetic. I tested James on this at the breakfast table, and, thankfully, he passed.
I have to say I’m lousy at maths which I’m sure was down to bad teaching. I can’t do a thing without a calculator – my brain just goes blank.
Elle, you are not the only one to take matters into your own hands and support your child with extra tutoring in this most vital of subjects. We have recently noticed a substantial increase in parents enrolling in our online assessment system Yacapaca http://yacapaca.com in order to use its extensive Maths resources to support their children directly.
The debate you highlight isn’t detailed on either the LMS website you link to or the Reform website you link to. A pity as it seems an interesting and worthwhile event.
Whilst I have a high opinion of Micheal Gove in terms of ability I have become convinced he is a career politician, like Cameron. Don’t hold your breath for any sensible reform.
The situation you describe here seems nonsensical, as you say, Ellee. Maths is an essential life skill, as is English (or possibly Urdu). Are you going to encourage him to take the top paper? Or do you have no choice in the matter, as we didn’t in my day (O level vs CSE)? I have to say that maths is a joy but it does depend on the teacher, as much of schooling does. Maths is completely fascinating and I wish your son well in this wonderful world of understanding how things work. I’m so pleased you can give him the extra tutoring he needs but you are so right to highlight this barmy idea of the governments as everyone is not in a position to afford to compensate their child for the poor decisions the government takes.
It’s too appalling. Good luck with the tuition
Mathematics is the only pure subject with no rights or wrongs – no subjectivity or interpretations to hide behind… just a number at the end of a sum to show that your thinking was right and that your study was rigorous enough.
Its honesty exposes the dishonesty of the comprehensive experiment and they just don’t know how to cope with it. I’m sure they’d rather mathematics be dropped from the syllabus if they could get away with it.
Kev – do you think they’ll teach children that 2+2 make a ‘socially acceptable unit’, for fear of offending the numbers 3 and 5. I so wish I was joking but it’s getting harder these days to make it up – education IS a joke in this country.
Maths is beautiful thinking.
The language of the Universe, Pippy.
I loved that comment of yours btw 😉
Yes, I am encouraging James to go for the higher paper. It depends very much on what his teacher says, she is at her wits end about this too.
Pip, I have had an invite to attend this debate, but I’m not sure I can make it. Details may be added on the Reform website later, this is some more info I was sent:
Reform report launch
The Value of Mathematics
Michael Gove MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Dr. Tony Gardiner, Reader in Mathematics at Birmingham University and Founder, UK Maths Challenge
Professor John Marks, Report Author
Chair: Elizabeth Truss, Deputy Director of Reform
Pip, I like your comment about maths being beautiful thinking. Pity our ministers don’t think mathematically.
I always thought it was very restricting having to decide which of three levels to enter pupils for. Why on earth can’t they take the exam and be able to achieve any grade instead of being restricted. Now, as you say, the situation is far worse. I wonder which idiot thought this one up?
Jennyta, I agree totally. I meant to add a line saying that. Why can’t we have one exam which will enable all students to attain the grade they are capable of?
The report also makes recommendations to increase the value of mathematics.
They tried this when the National Curriculum first came in – sciences and maths. Didn’t work and they had to redraft the NC.
I was very lucky when I was at school. I was border line on whether I should be in the top maths class or not. My teacher spent one of his lunch times every week giving a few of us extra lessons. It made all the difference for me 🙂
Too many changes forced on the education system . When, oh when, is any government ever going to listen to teachers?
Unfortunately Labour won’t get anywhere near mental arithmetic, as some kids find it hard and therefore it must be removed from the curriculum in order to keep pushing exam pass rates even higher.
http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
One can’t be either top or bottom. There has to be a middle ground.
I agree Jean-luc….
Is the government trying to “dumb-down” students?
Ellee: As soon as you mentioned “the government” I had my answer. Our government in the US is stupid, as in, they focus on nothing more than getting re-elected. This example you mention sounds idiotic, and I quite agree.
Kids with Calculators. I had a pencil and a worn out eraser with my Mom who bashed my head against the wall if I dared give the wrong answer! My best buddy from next door was over one night and instead of doing homework we were cutting up. So my Mom walked and took over in prison warden manner that was alternatively embarrassing and hysterical. The more beatings I sustained with my friend looking on like a Peter Cook and me a Dudley Moore struggling not to laugh. But that is for another time! 🙂
I completely agree – my daughter is 15 and doing rather well – but maths is not her strongest subject and just like you say she needs to be motivated to aim at A or B instead she gets bumped down …
Excellent and thought-provoking post.
I am a mathematician (well, a lapsed one) and my children have always been good at Maths. But the teaching in schools is not good – it does not make maths a subject that children find easy to cope with or attractive to study. There are many ways to make Maths exciting and more straightforward but the recruitment of teachers with the appropriate mathematical ability and teaching skills is problematic.
I do not teach Maths nor would I wish to.
The situation for your son is most unsatisfactory – you should not have to rely on private tuition but it would almost certainly be something worth doing.
[…] Food – the new political weapon By Ellee A "can’t do" attitude to maths is reported to have cost the economy £9 billion. And it will get worse, thanks to the downgraded GCSE syllabus for maths where fewer pupils will be able to achieve good grades. I described it as "an education blackhole" in this post last month. […]