Compulsory Maths till you’re 18.

Luckygirl3

I did really well at O-level maths in spite of hating it.

I wrote down all the formulae I was likely to need and read these up to the last moment going into the exam room, then screwed the paper up and chucked it on the floor as I went in. As soon as they said we could start, I wrote them all down at the top of my paper!

It's not always knowledge that gets you through!

Luckygirl I was told to give up GCE Maths but refused and got a very good mark. The exam seemed exceptionally easy compared to what our rather hopeless teacher (she was useless at communicating) was teaching us which was way beyond 'O' level standard.

I remember looking at the exam paper and 😲 because it seemed easy!
I did need it, so thank goodness I stood my ground.

It won’t work, at sixteen if you don’t want to do Maths you won’t.

Distraction techniques.

And here's a tip for a foreign language oral exam - go in on crutches, or wearing a sling, having learned the relevant vocabulary for this fictitious accident - works like a charm!

😲😂

I'm sure our French Mam'selle would have sussed us!

No! There are so many options. Managing your bank account, mortgage, savings etc. English yes, numeracy no!

English yes, numeracy no!

What?

Well, just what the country needs, students forced to do a subject like maths till they’re 18. It’s one what to guarantee 6th forms and therefore university places will reduce.

I’m honestly not disputing the importance of numeracy. What this government is showing yet again, is contempt for the arts. That includes English and History
The arts contribute enormously to improved mental health as well as the economy

No sorry, me again.

A subject like maths

What does that mean?

I'm glad to say that I last attempted differential calculus 60 years ago and I've never needed it since - along with algebra and trigonometry.

I failed O Level maths (the only O Level I did fail) and nothing would have induced me to attempt it again. My friend and I were discussing it today and decided we had learned all the maths we needed for normal life by the time we left primary school.

Improving children's English would be more useful. So many leave school unable to put together coherent sentences in what is supposed to be their native language. My daughter finds that she spends a lot of time editing her post grad student's written work as they have great ideas but are unable to put them into understandable English (unless they are foreign, when their English is usually perfect)

I'm clearly not normal then...🤣

I’m assuming that he means functional maths, e.g. how to work out percentages, how to work out how many tiles are needed to cover X area, how to understand rates of interest - and many other basics, I’m sure.

Iam64

Well, just what the country needs, students forced to do a subject like maths till they’re 18. It’s one what to guarantee 6th forms and therefore university places will reduce.

I’m honestly not disputing the importance of numeracy. What this government is showing yet again, is contempt for the arts. That includes English and History
The arts contribute enormously to improved mental health as well as the economy

As I said previously, it is all designed to distract us from what is vitally important pro tempore.

Latin to A level? Yes!
To understand the present you need to learn past history.

Callistemon21

😲😂

I'm sure our French Mam'selle would have sussed us!

Ah, but the external examiner ...........

Do you know, I can't remember her at all!

It obviously went just fine although I did make some faux pas when I lived with a French family 😁

When I was in 6th form back in the early 1970's we had 'maths for arts' students and 'English for science' students. It was just one session a week compulsory maths or English depending on what A levels we were taking. I had just about scraped a pass at O level maths and had hoped never to have to even think about it ever again. The once a week session seemed absolutely pointless to me and I don't think I gained anything from it. Have never had a problem with numeracy in everyday life or work.

volver

^English yes, numeracy no!^

What?

I find it incredible that people obsess over "correct" grammar, but don't seem bothered that the UK has low levels of numeracy and some people even seem to see being weak in maths as a badge of honour. No wonder politicians get away with the statistics they quote, when people don't understand them

In any case, it won't happen. It's a dead cat. We can't find enough trained maths teachers now and there's no extra funding for sixth forms and further education colleges, who would be expected to deliver the extra maths. The Tories will be out in two years and it takes longer than that to write programmes of study and develop assessments.

The English A'Level system (Wales too and NI?) is unique as it is so incredibly narrow. Throughout Europe, with the 'Baccalauréat' system- students continue all subjects to 18/19- not just maths. They can specialise to some extent, and their main subjects count for me in final exams- but they have to pass them all at minimum level.

Both systems have pros and cons, as always- but the English system is far too narrow and probably the European model, too wide. I really must spend time understanding the Scottish system better, as it seems they strike a good and positive middle.

All students should continue to do maths, and also English- but not necessarily as GCSE or A'Level- but adapted to the students. All students should be able to cope with numeracy and understand statistics, and practical things like debt, etc.

for more, not me!

A basic knowledge of maths(incl, your tables) is an essential in life. My' motto' has always been that maths is the foundation of life. Many things that we do in life need maths, cooking, sewing, joinery, shopping to name but a few.

The English A'Level system (Wales too and NI?) is unique as it is so incredibly narrow. Throughout Europe, with the 'Baccalauréat' system- students continue all subjects to 18/19- not just maths

Wales has introduced a Welsh Baccalaureate, FleurPepper.

I don't know too much about it, sorry, as my DGC haven't reached that age yet. Whether it is in addition to or an alternative to 'A' levels, I don't know.

Another smokescreen from our PM to mask the abysmal state of the country. There aren’t ENOUGH maths teachers to implement this, does he actually know that? And what qualification would it lead to? ‘A’ levels require intense study and three seems to be the norm so how does the maths fit in? Far better to make the GCSE fit for purpose with good grades achievable for all. And education in personal finance wouldn’t go amiss either. Sorry, Rishi, more waffle with no real substance. A bit like politics as a whole today, whatever the party!

A complete waste of time some people will never be any good at Math I was one of them, I was glad to opt out of Math in the 3rd year. It as never held me back being a successful business woman, Play to your strengths and employ people who's strengths you do not have. The English language would be a subject to take until you are 18. What happens if you leave education at 16 are the Math police going to kick your door in and force you to learn trigonometry. Just another sad politician chasing headlines instead of doing their jobs and making the country better for everyone not just the elite.

My adopted granddaughter was in care for several years and, although she did go to school throughout lockdown, she was very behind when she went to her new school. This means that she hadn't got the basic grounding in maths and has struggled to catch up as her classmates are moving forward and she always lags behind.
I think that many schoolchildren do lack basic maths skills and it would be wonderful if they could gain them. Many FE courses do require a pass in maths, so people without the qualification will have their life chances limited.
I wonder if a new qualification, perhaps in "Numeracy" could be the solution? So much of what children learn at school is of little value to them in later life, but numeracy is essential.

I didn’t understand maths until I had to teach it ! Then it made sense!
Good luck to those who will have to teach non conformists !