More post-16 mathematics options needed, says OECD
Compulsory resits of maths GCSE should be replaced with a new foundation level course, according tothe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD). The OECD, which runs the influential Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), undertook the report comparing maths in England with other countries at the request of the Department for Education (DfE). This was under the previous Conservative administration, as part of their efforts to tackle a perceived ‘anti-maths midset’. It has been published during the current government’s curriculum and assessment review, which it is understood will make some recommendation on the future of GCSE maths resits policy. (The call for evidence for the review runs until 22
November and submissions can be made here:https://tinyurl.com/4t6wvavh)
The OECD found that while England consistently ranks among the top OECD countries in mathematics performance at age 15, the share ofyoung people studying the subject post-16 is among the lowest across the OECD. Typically at least half of young people study maths to 18 across most member countries, compared with just 16.5 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds in England. However, they found that rather than any ‘anti-maths mindset’,15 year olds in England expressed greater enjoyment and confidence inmathematics compared to their peers on average across the OECD. Instead the report suggests that low participation in maths post-16 in England stems from the structural and policy environment.
Among the challenges are a limited range of options for continuing mathematics post-16 when compared with other systems. Data for 2018/19 showed almost 30 per cent of young people studying maths at 16 to 18 were those who had not obtained atleast a grade 4 at GCSE, and were therefore required to continue studying the subject. Of other students continuing to study the subject after 16, most were ‘very high performers’. The OECD suggest that
England’s post-16 options are currently mainly catering to ‘a small elite group’.The Core Maths programme, introduced in 2015 as an option to encourage a wider range of young people to study maths to 18, has low take-up according to the report. It notes that countries such as Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore have a ‘far wider range’ of options to study maths to 18, and have much higher levels of participation as a result.
Since 2015, students who did not obtain a pass at GCSE maths have been required to continue studying the subject, with funding for colleges and sixth forms at risk in most cases if students do not resit the subject. (A similar requirement is in place for GCSE English). The OECD calls for this system of
compulsory resits to be scrapped, with a ‘foundational level course for those who do not achieve at least grade 4 at GCSE to continue building their core mathematics knowledge and skill’ provided instead.
Responding to the report, Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the ASCL union, said: ‘The problem is that the range of subjects studied by students reduces dramatically at 16 meaning that many do not continue with subjects such as maths. We would welcome greater flexibility for incorporating numeracy and literacy, but this has got to be done in the right way, so that it is manageable for colleges and sixth forms while being in the best interests of students. This is not the case with the current mandatory resit policy for GCSE maths and English, which can be a demoralising experience for students and a huge undertaking for providers. We agree with the need for a more accessible mathematics programme at 14-16 and have long called for the government to consider creating a new qualification that better allows students to demonstrate practical literacy and numeracy.’
Full report: https://tinyurl.com/mprxkr9t
Compulsory resits of maths GCSE should be replaced with a new foundation level course, according tothe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD). The OECD, which runs the influential Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), undertook the report comparing maths in England with other countries at the request of the Department for Education (DfE). This was under the previous Conservative administration, as part of their efforts to tackle a perceived ‘anti-maths midset’. It has been published during the current government’s curriculum and assessment review, which it is understood will make some recommendation on the future of GCSE maths resits policy. (The call for evidence for the review runs until 22
November and submissions can be made here:https://tinyurl.com/4t6wvavh)
The OECD found that while England consistently ranks among the top OECD countries in mathematics performance at age 15, the share ofyoung people studying the subject post-16 is among the lowest across the OECD. Typically at least half of young people study maths to 18 across most member countries, compared with just 16.5 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds in England. However, they found that rather than any ‘anti-maths mindset’,15 year olds in England expressed greater enjoyment and confidence inmathematics compared to their peers on average across the OECD. Instead the report suggests that low participation in maths post-16 in England stems from the structural and policy environment.
Among the challenges are a limited range of options for continuing mathematics post-16 when compared with other systems. Data for 2018/19 showed almost 30 per cent of young people studying maths at 16 to 18 were those who had not obtained atleast a grade 4 at GCSE, and were therefore required to continue studying the subject. Of other students continuing to study the subject after 16, most were ‘very high performers’. The OECD suggest that
England’s post-16 options are currently mainly catering to ‘a small elite group’.The Core Maths programme, introduced in 2015 as an option to encourage a wider range of young people to study maths to 18, has low take-up according to the report. It notes that countries such as Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore have a ‘far wider range’ of options to study maths to 18, and have much higher levels of participation as a result.
Since 2015, students who did not obtain a pass at GCSE maths have been required to continue studying the subject, with funding for colleges and sixth forms at risk in most cases if students do not resit the subject. (A similar requirement is in place for GCSE English). The OECD calls for this system of
compulsory resits to be scrapped, with a ‘foundational level course for those who do not achieve at least grade 4 at GCSE to continue building their core mathematics knowledge and skill’ provided instead.
Responding to the report, Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the ASCL union, said: ‘The problem is that the range of subjects studied by students reduces dramatically at 16 meaning that many do not continue with subjects such as maths. We would welcome greater flexibility for incorporating numeracy and literacy, but this has got to be done in the right way, so that it is manageable for colleges and sixth forms while being in the best interests of students. This is not the case with the current mandatory resit policy for GCSE maths and English, which can be a demoralising experience for students and a huge undertaking for providers. We agree with the need for a more accessible mathematics programme at 14-16 and have long called for the government to consider creating a new qualification that better allows students to demonstrate practical literacy and numeracy.’
Full report: https://tinyurl.com/mprxkr9t