Cambridge University has been given £2.5m funding for a project the government says will pave the way for a more rigorous mathematics A-level in England. The project will be led by Professor Martin Hyland, Head of the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, and General Secretary of the London Mathematical Society, and Lynne McClure, director of NRICH, part of the university's Millennium Mathematics Project.
'The programme will provide rich resources for advanced post-16 mathematics which will augment and support current teaching, published online and freely accessible to all. The emphasis will be on simple underlying mathematical ideas, helping students to explore connections between different areas of mathematics, and supporting the development of key mathematical skills and clarity of thought. A spokesman for Cambridge University added that the scheme was about supplying resources - not setting exams.
The impetus comes from a belief in the importance of dialogue between schools, higher education and research. The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, said, 'This project will raise standards, raise ambition, and spread specialist knowledge about teaching advanced mathematics throughout the school system.
It is anticipated that pilot versions of material will begin to be published next summer, with development continuing over the following two years'.
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