ATL comment on maths for 16- to 18-year-olds

Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary for policy at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: 

"It is good news that the Government is not going to make maths compulsory for 16- to 18-year-olds as we know that this would have put a lot of students off staying in the sixth form. However, schools and colleges will need to know exactly what maths qualifications they will be required to teach. It is also good to hear that the Government has recognised that there is a shortage of maths teachers and that this crisis needs to be addressed right now.

"A recent Mathematical Association study shows that there has been “an “alarming” decline in the number of 16-year-old students willing to continue studying maths after taking this year’s tougher GCSE.

"After decades of work by teachers to encourage more students to do maths at A-level the Government has completely sabotaged this with its reforms to maths GCSE. We fear there will be fewer students taking maths and further maths in the future, not more."