Compulsory Maths till you’re 18.

I think they should make sure that the children that are capable of doing so, should have a secure knowledge of basic maths and economy, and leave the more advanced maths to those that want to have a career in fields that would need that. There's so many unnecessary subjects they are also required to do and puts them under so much pressure these days. Teach them basic living and social skills, and our society will benefit from it. I would have rebelled if I'd been made to do maths until 18, as I couldn't cope with it after we got to algebra etc, and I'm sure the other subjects I enjoyed would have consequently suffered.

Plunger wrote:

"I hope by maths it will be numeracy as in how to work out interest rates on loans, keeping to a budget, how mortgages work. Amazes me how many young people do not understand things such as compound interest etc"

I agree that applied maths is needed. I am not a teacher of modern maths, however for what it's worth, I guess the theory has to be learned before the applications can be understood. Moreover I also guess you have to do the classroom practice before you can understand the theory.

Can I just wholeheartedly support BOTH of FannyCornforth’s highly intelligent ideas outlined above.

I failed CSE maths, then failed GCE Maths twice and finally achieved a C pass in GCSE in my mid thirties through the very clear teaching of a distance learning tutor while I was at sea. Despite holding a Master of Science degree, but no first degree - I can honestly say that, apart from very simple arithmetic, a bit of simplistic stats and basic geometry, I have NEVER used maths in any job, task or skill in the 55 years since I left school.

For most people, maths to GCSE level will see them in good stead for their future and to stay in school post 16 or go to a technical college, then this qualification is a standard requirement. I feel he's aiming at the wrong people here. The aim should be towards those that fail their maths GCSE, eg those that can't work out a simple 10% discount in their head, those that can't give change unless the till tells them how much.

So arithmetic, stats and geometry, then?

That's all maths. 🤦🏼

I hated maths at school, and feared my maths teachers! although I excelled in the Arts subjects, and Languages. I didn't pass O’level maths, but did some how manage to pass Chemistry, Physics and Biology at O’level! Thanks to private tutoring from my lovely, kind, Physics teacher; who commented that he had never met a child before me who was good at science, but couldn't do maths!
I have improved over the years, but my year 8 grandson is already better at maths than me!
I think I would have had a break down if I had not been able to drop Maths at 16 and instead I sat A’levels in History, English Lit and French, all of which I loved

I would have hated it. Not my best subject and have always struggled with it and found it boring. I prefer languages and Art. . It is just another attempted diversion from more pressing matters.

And I can work out percentages in my head, know my times tables and can do addition subtraction and division fairly easily without a calculator! Its all I have really needed in daily life

I agree with Doodledog, I don’t think all pupils/students should be made to study maths until they are 18. I was at Grammar school in the late 50s, and a bit of a dreamer. I studied all the basic subjects including maths(geometry, algebra, trigonometry etc), Latin, French etc. I was in the 3rd division maths (the no hopers), and the maths teacher had very little interest in us. I was told by headmistress (mid GCE exams) that I needn’t expect to pass any exams. I passed 6 out of 8, and then my parents removed me. I have a BA from London University, and subsequently 2 postgraduate MAs. I have lectured in colleges, and won residencies in other countries. I was also awarded a Winston Churchill Travel Scholarship. I wonder what would happen today to ‘my headmistress’. Maybe she would have been sacked?! She never apologised.
So I do not think everyone should be made to study maths until 18 (just because it’s Rishis favourite subject). But I do believe that everyone should be able to do the full curriculum until O grades or 16 years of age, everything you learn comes in useful along the way.

Surely not all need to study maths until 18. A good level of numeracy yes, to enable figures to be understood eg accounts. The current fuel bills is an example, interest on a/cs, credit agreements. Studying maths is different from being numerate and not all are caoable of understanding maths to a high level unless of course the system will be watered down and spread over a longer timescale in the hope most will reach a basic standard. Sledgehammer to crack a nut comes to mind.

Am I missing something here? How can there be any objections to any sort of education?? It will not be A level type maths - no doubt skills to help with life eg banking, paying bills etc.

A lot of people are not academics but enjoy the arts and sport more so, as did I. Me thinks that taught monetary basics are missing - budgeting, prioritising.
Sideways move: Many people today don’t know how to budget and don’t know how to put together a cheap healthy meal - all this comes with Math. Prioritising, well, mobile phone is the top of many lists! I read an article on a young who was struggling financially, he said that he had given up his mobile phone and Netflix. Well done to a sensible young man.

Anniepa

Am I missing something here? How can there be any objections to any sort of education?? It will not be A level type maths - no doubt skills to help with life eg banking, paying bills etc.

But what if they have left school at 16 and are in work which does not need maths? Will they have to go part-time to attend compulsory Maths lessons once or twice a week at college or school?

Well I’m glad I won’t have to do it!

I would have hated it OP. Myself and three others somehow managed to persuade our fearsome headmistress to let us drop maths entirely as we were so bad at it and instead spend that time concentrating on the subjects where we had a cat in hells chance of doing better. We'd somehow fallen through the cracks when it came to our times tables and it was too late to make up for lost time.

We were trusted to spend the time in an empty classroom to do coursework for our CSEs instead. Obviously we chatted a bit as well but we were immensely grateful to have the maths worry taken away. I wouldn't have minded being in a remedial class for the dreaded sums without the stress of an exam but it wasn't available.

It is basic Arithmetic that needs to be taught, nevermind Maths!
I was taught both in the 70's. Scottish 'O' Grades in both and I can honestly say that after 40 years working in finance, I used Arithmetic every day but cannot recall ever needing Algebra, Trigonometry, Binary etc etc.
Teach everyone basic Arithmetic and it will set them up for life ! Or Logarithms!

I'm stunned by the number of posters who say they hated maths at school and would have rebelled.

I hated English Literature, but just got on with it.

I mean, never used Logarithms either

minniemouse

It is basic Arithmetic that needs to be taught, nevermind Maths!
I was taught both in the 70's. Scottish 'O' Grades in both and I can honestly say that after 40 years working in finance, I used Arithmetic every day but cannot recall ever needing Algebra, Trigonometry, Binary etc etc.
Teach everyone basic Arithmetic and it will set them up for life ! Or Logarithms!

Logarithms? Why?

Ah! I've just seen your next post. No need to explain.

Callistemon21

Anniepa

Am I missing something here? How can there be any objections to any sort of education?? It will not be A level type maths - no doubt skills to help with life eg banking, paying bills etc.

But what if they have left school at 16 and are in work which does not need maths? Will they have to go part-time to attend compulsory Maths lessons once or twice a week at college or school?

In England, young people can't leave education completely until they're 18.

I suspect even many of those in apprenticeships will find they have to do some maths related to their work.

Yes, they'll have to go to college anyway.

Don't get me started on basic English either !
TV is populated by presenters who are 'sat' here 'stood' here, 'done' this and that.
I cringe at the poor English!

Granless

A lot of people are not academics but enjoy the arts and sport more so, as did I. Me thinks that taught monetary basics are missing - budgeting, prioritising.
Sideways move: Many people today don’t know how to budget and don’t know how to put together a cheap healthy meal - all this comes with Math. Prioritising, well, mobile phone is the top of many lists! I read an article on a young who was struggling financially, he said that he had given up his mobile phone and Netflix. Well done to a sensible young man.

Frankly, the young man is going to find it very difficult to participate in everyday life without a mobile phone. I don't really understand what that has to do with maths.

minniemouse

Don't get me started on basic English either !
TV is populated by presenters who are 'sat' here 'stood' here, 'done' this and that.
I cringe at the poor English!

So why does that make you cringe, but you tolerate people who can't interpret a basic graph?