Post-16 mathematics: an alternative level 2 qualification?
What is the issue?
Following
recent policy change, students who have not achieved at least a
GCSE grade C in mathematics (or equivalent) will continue to work
towards this qualification during their 16-19 education. This
equates to 50% of post-16 students. A recommendation from the 2011
Wolf Review was that all learners should continue to study
mathematics until reaching this level.
ACME supports the aspiration that all students should study
mathematics to 18. However, many suggest that retaking GCSE
Mathematics examinations, often many times, can be demotivating for
students and likely does not promote depth of learning. Results are
generally poor, especially for those with prior grades lower than
D.
ACME has been considering whether GCSE mathematics is best
suited for such students, or whether an alternative qualification
would better meet their needs. In its Maths Snapshot 'Maths for all to
18' ACME argues that alternatives to re-taking GCSE should be a
strategic development priority, with adequate funding.
What work is being done on this?
ACME published a
discussion document on this issue in July 2013.
A consultation on
Functional Skills in mathematics and English was launched in Spring
2016.
Timeline
- July 2006:
Mathematics in Further Education colleges report published by
ACME.
- July 2010: ACME published
Post-16 in 2016 in which reference is made to an alternative
level 2 qualification that is equivalent to GCSE Mathematics, which
involves project work.
- May 2011: ACME published a position paper on
Early and Mutiple Entry to GCSE Mathematics, which discussed
the importance of GCSE mathematics.
- July 2013: ACME published the
discussion paper
Post-16 Mathematics: Engaging the new cohort'. ACME noted its
support for the aspiration that everyone should be actively
engaging in mathematics until they are functioning at the
equivalent of at least a Level 2 in mathematics. Various issues
with the existing qualification arrangements were outlined;
highlighting that re-sitting a GCSE numerous times is not
beneficial to students or to schools and colleges.
- July 2013: Workshop session on a
'Mature GCSE' at the ACME
2013 Annual Conference.
- April 2014: ACME Chair, Steve Sparks
signed up a
letter in the Times from the City and Guilds, which called for
consideration of a practical, contextualised and rigourous post-16
qualification.
- December 2014: ACME published its
Maths Snapshot Maths for all
to 18 outlining that all young people should study maths up to
18.
- Spring 2015: ACME contributed to the
ETF review on mathematics qualifications.
- Spring 2016: ACME is looking at this issue in
relation to the Functional Skills
consultation.
Relevant Maths Memos blog posts