Compulsory Maths till you’re 18.

Anybody on here explaining that English was of no interest or use to them so they dropped it was soon as they could? That reading has been no use to them as they were able to just master the basics and so that's all they needed?

No? Thought not.

Not being able to grasp maths is not a badge of honour.

(People with dyscalculia and dyslexia excluded from this, or course)

I hated Maths at school. I knew my tables and how to do basic stuff like long division, fractions, decimals etc . At age 13 five of us went to the Head to ask to drop Maths and do Greek instead. She agreed. We were very happy - I had an aptitude and love of languages - Maths was of absolutely no interest to me as long as I could do the basics. I studied French German Latin and Greek as well as English of course- also out of school, I studied Italian and Russian. I left school at 17 with 3 language A levels. We all went on to have a good career - a Headmistress, a Doctor, a managing director, a Fellow of Girton, and an author. This was before the strictures of the National curriculum and in the 50’s quite enlightened. I was very grateful to that Head.

FannyCornforth

Or perhaps we could bring back National Service; but instead of it being in the military, it would be NHS based

You’d still need to understand basic maths or how would you interpret medicine doses, temperatures, blood pressures. Numbers are everywhere.

I can only assume Kwasi Kwatang finished maths age 8

I think he means arithmetic and basic bookkeeping rather than maths. If that’s the case then yes I agree. Everybody needs to understand how to manage their money as well as everyday stuff like measuring for curtains, carpet etc. we need simple maths in everything we do.

Beechnut

Hope he doesn’t ask me 🤣

Ah, but I bet she knows because she learn that at primary school!!
I expect she knows her times tables too 😁

Why do people who are good at a subject think that anyone can grasp it?

Because it needs to be taught in a way which makes it interesting.

Some people can be extremely knowledgeable about a subject but be poor at communicating in a way which makes that subject understandable and enjoyable to those less interested or able.

Hope he doesn’t ask me 🤣

personally dont see the point, you either "get it" and can do it, or you cant. No amount of teaching will change the way your brain works.
Basic cookery lessons, basic first aid, and possibly budgeting lessons will be more use to your future than a subject that will cause pupils unneeded stress and anxiety.

Totally ridiculous to force people to study this against their will. You can marry at 16, but must study maths? Crazy

Just another Tory diversion from the real, immediate problems of the UK like ambulance waiting times, lack of social care, A&E crisis, etc. They fiddle about while we all burn.

I didn't "get"Maths at school and no length of time would have altered that. At 83 I still don't get it
On the other hand I got A Level English Literature and Grammar. If you can't do Maths no amount of compulsion will make you.

I wasn't great at school but my one good subject was English. Maths lessons were awful. I managed the basics (and later went on to be a book keeper) but if I had been forced to do Maths until I was 18 it would have been horrendous for me. Why do people who are good at a subject think that anyone can grasp it?

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 !

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

for more, not me!

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.

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.

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.

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 😁

Callistemon21

😲😂

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

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