For the first time ever, more than 100,000 students are collecting A level Maths results in this summer’s exams.
At Pearson, we’ve closely followed the rise in the popularity of maths over the last decade as the exam board that’s proud to support the largest number of schools and students with this subject.
But what does such a significant 12.9% year-on-year rise in entries tell us?
Ben Levinson, Headteacher at Kensington Primary School and winner of The Pearson National Teaching Awards Primary School of the Year 2020, shares his school’s approach to promote teacher agency and autonomy as part of a culture of trust to reduce workloads.
Many of the skills inherent to reading are developed through spoken language long before children learn to associate sound with print. Attending to children’s early spoken language development is a stepping stone towards building reading proficiency later on.
The importance of fostering an inclusive learning environment is widely recognised. When students see themselves reflected in the curriculum they learn, the classrooms they learn in, and the school community they are part of; they feel empowered, engaged and able to thrive.
GCSE English will be our first exams in a core subject to go fully onscreen, subject to Ofqual approval. But why GCSE English first?
The answer builds on ongoing research, pilot schemes and conversations we’ve undertaken to better understand how onscreen assessments might work, why and in what way they’re useful for students (and schools and colleges) and importantly, why and when we should implement them.
by Dr Ems Lord, NRICH
Although maths is the most popular A Level choice among teenagers (JCQ, 2023), we must address the negative attitudes surrounding a subject where it’s socially acceptable to claim to be ‘no good with numbers’, that ‘maths has no uses in the real-world’ or that ‘maths is boring.’
As someone who loves the subject I chose to study and teach, I’m focusing my efforts on challenging those negative beliefs and I hope that the ideas in this article encourage you to do so too.
Power of Maths Spotlight with Dr Ems Lord, NRICH
Authored by Maddie Short, Programmes Lead, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation
Two teachers share their stories of how they’re tackling the digital divide in their schools.
