Education Secretary Michael Gove has announced a new partnership with the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) in collaboration with the London Mathematical Society (LMS) and the Royal Statistical Society (RSS). The LMS will work together with IMA and RSS to offer around 150 scholarships, worth £20,000 each, to graduates with a 2:1 or a first-class degree wanting to train as a mathematics teacher.
Alice Rogers, LMS Education Secretary, said: 'This scholarship scheme will increase the number of good mathematicians who become good mathematics teachers, and will ensure they feel welcomed as members of the broader mathematics community. Bringing into schools more teachers with a deeper understanding of the subject will give many more children an intellectually stimulating encounter with mathematics, and an understanding of it which they in turn will use and share'.
Nigel Steele, IMA Honorary Secretary for education, said: 'Mathematics, through its applications, already contributes massively to the UK economy. Research also shows that those who do well at mathematics at school are likely to earn significantly more than their peers.The scholarship scheme designed by the IMA, on behalf of its collaborating bodies, will attract highly-qualified graduates and career-changers who might not otherwise have considered teaching as a career. These scholars will help strengthen the mathematics teaching force in its capacity to inspire those who will determine the future'.
Valerie Isham, RSS President, said: 'Getting the best people into teaching mathematics and statistics in schools is a crucial step in helping children to develop the analytical and numerical skills they need for further academic study and exciting careers in a whole range of areas. Inspirational teachers can provide motivation, insight and enthusiasm. Statistical literacy is an essential life skill: the need to make decisions based on numerical data confronts us all in every aspect of our professional and personal lives'.
The full press release is available here
For more inforamtion about the scheme and to register your interest visit the Scheme website