20th December 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A new report on maths education has concluded that rushing able students through the curriculum is producing students who emerge with a superficial grasp of the subject. The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (Acme) have concluded that students should have a “rigorous and challenging” experience of maths at school rather than being pushed through.
The report suggests that schools are significantly underachieving in terms of helping maths students develop, focussing instead on pushing students through quickly if they are bright. The report draws on OECD data which suggests that just 1.7% of England’s 15 year olds reached the highest levels in maths, compared with the OECD average of 3.1%.
Schools’ success in England is measured in part on their ability to accelerate students through the curriculum. This means that schools are accelerating students; top tier 11 year olds are being given secondary school work, and some secondary school students are being entered for GCSEs early. The report concludes that students should learn in depth rather than be pushed through early.