TACKLING THE MATHEMATICS PROBLEM

London Mathematical Society
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
Royal Statistical Society

October 1995

© The London Mathematical Society
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ISBN 0 7044 16247

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OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

The first two sections summarise why this report was commissioned, and what issues it seeks to address. Sections 3--5 underline the key role of mathematics in the modern world, indicate the profound concerns of those in higher education about the mathematical background of students applying for courses in mathematics, science and engineering, and explain their perception of a marked change in mathematical preparedness even among the very best applicants. The more detailed sections (6--15) address a number of other specific concerns. The main recommendations and issues for further discussion are presented in Section 16.

• Contents
• SUMMARY
• WHO COMMISSIONED THIS REPORT? AND WHY?
• A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PROBLEM AND THE REQUIRED RESPONSE
• WHY MATHEMATICS STILL COUNTS
• CONCERNS ABOUT QUALITY
  • 4.1 The view of higher education
  • 4.2 Some possible causes
  • 4.3 Evidence
• CONCERNS ABOUT NUMBERS
• STANDARDS AT GCSE
• RECRUITMENT TO A-LEVEL
• A-LEVEL STANDARDS
• CORE MATERIAL AT A-LEVEL
• INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
• THE A-LEVEL STRUCTURE
• NON A-LEVEL ROUTES TO HIGHER EDUCATION
• TEACHER SUPPLY
• MARKET FORCES
• CONSULTATION
• CONCLUSIONS
• APPENDIX A
  • A1 New undergraduates
  • A2 Evidence from national mathematics competitions:
  • UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
  • UK Junior Mathematical Challenge
• APPENDIX B
• APPENDIX C
• APPENDIX D
• APPENDIX E
• APPENDIX F
• References
• Acknowledgements