The RSS has published proposals for how statistical and data skills should feature in the Prime Minister’s plans for Maths to 18.
We focus on the need to consider which skills are valued in education and emphasise that, in order for everyone to continue studying some form of maths and statistics to 18, pre-16 mathematics needs to be tackled as a priority. While we agree that the current system of teaching in mathematics leaves many students without the skills to navigate adult life, we make a series of recommendations to make a success of Maths to 18:
- The GCSE system should be refreshed to increase engagement and learning of relevant skills for all students, while also allowing students to study more maths if they wish. One option could be to offer a renovated Statistics/Data GCSE alongside the (also renovated) Maths GCSE. Students choosing to take both would achieve two GCSEs, or they could take a single combined GCSE covering core content from both maths and statistics/data
- Consider how to support the ‘forgotten third’ – ie, those who do not achieve a pass grade in maths GCSE. Limitless resits of GCSE Maths for students who have not passed will only demotivate students further; an alternative qualification, more appealing and relevant to daily life skills, should be introduced for students who have not passed after one resit
- Improve the current negative associations of maths in the population at all ages – by post-16, it is too late. Initiatives across the age groups, including in younger children and adults, as well as sustained efforts to change cultural attitudes in major institutions (the civil service, the media) may help
- Tackle inequalities in maths, statistics, and data science, including the gender gap in take-up of these subjects, as well as considering the effect of coming from a disadvantaged background on attainment
- Make the current curriculum more interdisciplinary, relevant and enjoyable, as well as engaging teachers from other subjects in statistics and data education
Read the report in full here.