How is GCSE Maths different?
The new GCSE Maths uses different ways of learning and assessment, including a new Functional Skills element, to develop students’ ability to think mathematically and to apply Maths in work, further study and their personal lives.
Students will acquire basic transferable skills, such as the ability to:
- interpret and organise information
- ask questions
- solve problems
- choose a method or technique appropriate to a task
- communicate an argument.
Teachers will need to develop these process skills through practical exercises and open-ended problems.
Assessments with new-style questions will require students to think mathematically, rather than simply rehearse content or techniques.
The new GCSE will force teachers to evaluate the way they teach and that’ll be a good thing.
Tracy Helliwell, Head of Maths, Kingsfield School
The new GCSE Maths is good news for students:
- more students have a sense of success
- students’ ability to think independently is encouraged
- increased mathematical understanding bolsters self-confidence
- students understand why they need to learn Maths, so are more motivated to learn.
When doing Functional Maths lessons, they were really engaged and they did like it.
Leanne Williams, Subject Leader: Maths, Vyners School, Uxbridge
The new GCSE Maths is good news for teachers
- gives you the chance to teach Maths the way you want to teach
- allows more flexibility and individuality in teaching
- provides a greater opportunity for all abilities to achieve at some level
- more students will acquire the skills to progress into work or further education
I think that it allows more openness in your teaching. All abilities respond better to anything that we do in a more open way, because as long as it’s accessible, the students can do something at their own level on that problem. So I think it gives them more a sense of success.
Tracy Helliwell, Head of Maths, Kingsfield School
The new GCSE Maths is good news for centres
- raised attainment levels resulting from increased motivation
- transferable skills can be applied across the curriculum
- more students will choose Maths for A-level
Students are going to be using maths in all sorts of subjects and it’s going to help them wherever they are.
Leanne Williams, Subject Leader: Maths, Vyners School, Uxbridge
The new GCSE Maths is good news for the country
- schools will produce mathematically competent citizens
- the UK will be better able to compete in a global market
Skills shortages in areas requiring high levels of mathematical knowledge…constitute a threat to the Government’s innovation and productivity strategy and to the future strength and success of the UK economy.
Making Mathematics Count, Professor Adrian Smith, 2004
