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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Sharp of Guildford (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 2 July 2009. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill.

Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I just intervene to tell the Minister—it is maths and further maths about which I assume the noble Lord is concerned—that there has been a significant increase in the number taking further maths over the last couple of years, partly as a result of the Further Mathematics Network initiative. It puts young people at state schools that have not had the facility to teach further maths in touch with people who have that capability. It is partly online but it also provides young people with face-to-face tuition through extra classes, twilight classes and weekend tuition. It is an example that has been extremely effective and could well be copied in one or two other areas. There is a question as to why, given that we have seen this increase in mathematics at A-level, the Government are now consulting on changing the A-level maths curriculum in 2011. The general feeling—and I was talking only last night to somebody representing the Mathematical Association—is that the formula is now good. People are flocking back to maths after the disaster of Curriculum 2000. If it ain’t broke—and it is working—why fix it?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
712 c377 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Disability Children in care Curriculum Disadvantaged Age Costs Business Apprentices Boarding schools Employment Jobcentres Finance Education Further education Expenditure Learning disability Educational institutions Free school meals English language Learning and skills councils Dyslexia Local government Qualifications Local education authorities Prisons Scotland Teachers Special educational needs Training Screening Young offenders Wales Welsh language Vocational education Sixth form colleges School leaving Social work Speech and language therapy Academies Mathematics GCE A-level Specialised diplomas Young People's Learning Agency Specific learning difficulties
Legislation
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk