Core Maths entries have more than doubled in the East Midlands over the last four years, and the number of institutions offering the subject has increased from 40 to over 70. The AMSP offers support for institutions thinking of offering this qualification by providing:
- advice and guidance, including the opportunity to discuss your specific needs with your local AMSP Area Coordinator
- a flexible range of professional development courses to develop the pedagogy and subject knowledge to teach Core Maths effectively
- resources for teaching and learning Core Maths
- information and materials to help you to explain to students and their parents/carers what Core Maths is, and the benefits of taking it
Core Maths supports students with their maths in other subjects, and the AMSP provides support for teachers of A level Psychology, Geography, and Biology. In the East Midlands region, we’re offering two online courses in July: Quantitative Skills – Maths for Other Subjects (Averages and Spread) and Quantitative Skills – Maths for Other Subjects (Chi Squared).
The inter-disciplinary nature of Core Maths gives students access to thinking that goes beyond the boundaries of the other subjects that they’re studying. There are a number of books that can introduce students to this sort of thinking. Some examples include:
- Math on Trial by Leila Schneps and Coralie Colmez
- Maths on the Back of an Envelope by Rob Eastaway
- How to Make the World Add Up by Tim Harford
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Factfulness by Hans Rosling
- The Maths of Life and Death by Kit Yates
There are many more listed on Dave Gale’s blog, with thanks to Kerry Dunton. Any of these books would be great summer reading for Year 11 students who are preparing to start Core Maths in the autumn, or for Year 12 Core Maths students who are starting to think of their personal statements and other applications. If you’re interested in developing Core Maths at your school, please contact your local Area Coordinator.