Speech from the Education Secretary Michael Gove on mathematics and science education
29 June 2011
The Education Secretary Michael Gove spoke at the Royal Society on 29
June about mathematics and science education. In his
speech, he made several references to ACME's work, notably to the
recent ACME
Mathematical Needs reports.
Michael Gove said: "Every year, about half of our pupils
leave school without even a 'C' in maths GCSE. But it's not just
those pupils who give us cause for concern. We still send powerful
signals throughout our education system that it's somehow
acceptable to give up on maths. Critically, we allow students to
abandon any mathematical study after 16, in stark contrast to other
developed nations. The 'maths gap' that most pupils now experience
after the age of 16 means that even those who did well at GCSE have
forgotten much of the maths they learnt by the time they start
their degree or a job. ACME's most recent figures on the take-up of
mathematics among 17 year-olds is particularly worrying.
That is why I think we should set a new goal for the
education system so that within a decade the vast majority of
pupils are studying maths right through to the age of 18."
The full speech can be found at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/speeches/a00191729/michael-gove-speaks-to-the-royal-society-on-maths-and-science
The Chair of ACME, Professor Dame Julia Higgins FRS FREng said:
"We were delighted to hear the Education Secretary Michael Gove
recognise the importance of maths in education, both at primary and
more advanced levels. In particular, we welcome his
recognition of the significance of ACME's Mathematical Needs
report, published this month, and its findings that too few
students now study the requisite level of mathematics to prepare
them properly for higher education or the workplace. ACME
found that 330,000 students each year embark on university courses
that require mathematical knowledge beyond GCSE, but that 210,000
of them will be unprepared for this when they arrive, having
finished their study of mathematics at GCSE. Further study of
mathematics would ensure that these students, and those entering
the world of employment, are better equipped to manage the
challenges they will face. We wholeheartedly agree with the
Education Secretary that the vast majority of pupils in the UK
should be studying maths right through to the age of 18 - to make
this happen we need to develop a range of different post-16 courses
to allow everyone to study the mathematics that they need to
progress.
ACME's full reports on Mathematical Needs are available for
download on our website. Please contact us if you would like a hardcopy of the
reports.
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