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Tories warn of maths 'apartheid'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor02.02.09
DAVID CAMERON warned of an increasing "apartheid" between private and state schools today as he unveiled plans to overhaul maths teaching across Britain.
Mr Cameron said that there was evidence that the subject was being "dumbed down" in too many schools in the state sector, leaving the country ill-prepared to compete globally in science, economics and other fields.
A Conservative task force headed by former Countdown host Carol Vorderman called for a fresh look at teaching methods and a review of claims that exams had become easier.
The Tory leader told GMTV today that half of 16-year-olds had scored less than grade C at GCSE maths. Britain is 24th in an international maths league, he said.
"There is an apartheid opening up between independent schools and the best state schools and others," he said. "Yet countries which are good at maths do better." Speaking ahead of today's launch, Ms Vorderman said: "Maths is critically important to the future of this country but Britain is falling behind the best-performing countries.
"In the last decade, 3.5 million children have left school without a basic qualification in maths, a shocking statistic. If they are to get the best jobs in the future and Britain is to emerge stronger from the recession we have little choice but to sort maths out now.
"There are many centres of excellence and many fabulous teachers but help is needed for the children being failed."
The Government pointed out that it was already overhauling maths.
Schools minister Jim Knight said: "The picture in maths is a positive one. The latest major international study last year showed that we are leading Europe in maths and have risen 11 places in world league tables since 2003 to 7th place."
Reader views (8)
7th place, 24th place. Quite a difference there. It suggests that one of the two people making these claims may not have had a full mathematical understanding of the statistics. If so, I know who I would put my money on.
Of course it is also just possible that they are quoting figures that suit their own ends, and hence from two entirely different sources.
Nao
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
The gap between Private and Public education is not that wide if you look at the example of George Osborne's economic plans.
- Andrew W1, London
Problem: Children not learning properly what they should be learning. Solution: If children behaved themselves in class rooms then perhaps Schools would attract a high calibre of teacher once more who would see the job as a vocation once more. Until the fundamental problem is addressed any amount of redundant entertainers advising will count for not a jot!!!This of course applies to all of schooling.
- Raymond, London
Nice one, let's not dumb down maths, let's get a celebrity in, that will solve it. Perhaps she should work through Tory party spending cuts to make sure all of them add up as well, and perhaps Boris could do with a hand on how he's going to stretch the Met budget to maintain front line policing after the Olympics.
- Steve, London
Carol Vorderman was not chosen because she was a game show host but because she has demonstrated her great skill with numbers.Maths is important but what is most needed is basic numeracy and a new approach is needed.Make it exciting,show tricks with numbers etc. . Get kids to see that it can be fun.More will then go on to take maths as a subject.
- M Wilkinson, London UK
Please Mr Cameron can I have a highly paid advisory job? In all honesty I cannot see how being a game show host qualifies someone for the role. And did not Ms Vorderman once advise Labour? My own observations suggest the rot sets in in primary school where many teachers are not 'fit and able' to teach maths. But then you only need two hands to count the number of incompetent teachers ever sacked (that's 10 or less if you are struggling!).
- Michael, London
David hasn;t in fact announced any of this as the snow prevented the event from taking place
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Is this the same Ms.Carol Vorderman who not so long ago advised through advertisements many people with financial problems to ' put all your loans in one basket' thereby making their problems worse?
- Paul, London
