Category: Uncategorised

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A level choices

A new report has shown that fewer students are choosing to combine arts with sciences at A level, and this is seen to be a direct result of the previous Conservative government’s education policies at the time when Michael Gove was Education Secretary:

https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/aug/14/a-level-students-choosing-narrower-range-of-subjects-after-gove-changes

When I did A levels, many years ago, I chose Maths, Physics and English on the basis that I really enjoyed Maths and English and couldn’t decide between a sciences or an arts route. Physics was just because it kind of went with maths, and I was interested in the big ideas behind it (still am) though it probably wasn’t well thought through. 

I’m so glad even now that I combined arts with sciences, even though I chose a sciences career path – I feel that it has strengthened my broad range of skills, and really aided my careers in both teaching and publishing where communication and analytical skills are both vital. 

I hope the new government will ensure that a more balanced curriculum all the way through school is available to all, and reverse some of the previous administration’s policies  around limited baccalaureates that favour STEM over the arts. 

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Covid and Maths

The Covid pandemic at its peak was both shocking and devastating. In the UK, the response is being reviewed by a comprehensive enquiry, which is examining evidence relating to the preparedness of the UK government and its actions.

This enquiry is much needed, particularly since the vaccine programme is generally seen as having been a success – touted by the government and backed up by the billionaire press as being world-beating, with a responsiveness  supposedly only made possible by the UK’s departure from the EU. 

However the reality of the UK’s overall responsiveness to the Covid pandemic, particularly in its initial stages and then throughout 2020, is being found to have been far from adequate, and potentially resulted in the avoidable loss of tens of thousands of lives. 

One significant area of interest in the enquiry is the government’s lack of knowledge, or indeed interest, in the maths behind the pandemic, which appears to have caused some exasperation among the leading scientists that were feeding into policy at the time. Educated largely in Classics and PPE (and interested in the economic potential of exploiting the other kind of PPE!), the cabinet  seemed unaware of the working of exponentials, which was the key concept behind the elusive ‘R number’.  It could be argued that  a tendency to think linearly led to inappropriate measures being taken. Furthermore, a misunderstanding of basic percentages led to perception of risk being out by a factor of 100, potentially resulting in disastrously inadequate measures being taken. Perhaps the much-used phrase ‘schoolboy error’ should be revisited. Perhaps also maths education should involve more on probability and risk (but getting away from coins, spinners and dice), alongside the current welcome focus on proportion and rates of change. 

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Units of measure

As part of its Brexit opportunities operation, the UK government is considering raising the prominence of imperial measures over metric. In June, it put out a public consultation rather quietly – I only realised it was there yesterday and the deadline is tomorrow (26th August)!

Here’s the link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/choice-on-units-of-measurement-markings-and-sales

Basically, they’re giving two options for UL traders: imperial only, or imperial with metric less prominent. No option for metric/ SI units only. Rather a loaded consultation, but worth completing if you have time and inclination, otherwise we’ll all be going back to acres, ounces and furlongs.

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National Numeracy Day

Well, it comes around every year alarmingly quickly and pretty much caught me out this year. It’s National Numeracy Day today, so go on the National Numeracy website (doesn’t have to be today!) to check out their resources, including a quick quiz to test your numeracy skills.
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk

And you don’t need to be a student either. National Numeracy is for people of any age and any confidence level.

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World π Day 2022

3.14: this day comes around every year, circling back again with the spring season in UK.

π is an integral part of Euler’s Identity, which reads:

It’s a bit geeky, but the pure simplicity of this formula is brilliant. Worth dwelling on for a day at least.  

Happy π Day 

 

 

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Simply Maths

The book Simply Maths is now published by Dorling Kindersley and I have received my author copy! It explains everyday maths topics in a simple visual way, with few words, and even fewer hard sums. It also introduces a few not-so-everyday topics, to help the realisation that maths isn’t just about percentages and fractions, or going supermarket shopping. It’s in a wonderful handy format, with attractively illustrated pages. I do hope you have a chance to look at  this book and enjoy it.

The perfect book to receive on 22/02/2022.

 

Simply Maths from Dorling Kindersley

Do visit the DK website here to get a copy:

https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241515686-simply-maths/

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Exam Solutions

Studying for GCSE or A level Maths?

Exam Solutions is a great revision resource for students, unlike other revision products which are often delivered through a school or college. And it’s partnered with AirMaths Tuition, ideal if you need 1 : 1 support. 

You can sign up for a free taster here: http://itutor.server.examsolutions.net/

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Simply Maths

An exciting new book called Simply Maths will be published by Dorling Kindersley on 3rd February 2022. It’s a uniquely visual approach to understanding the key concepts behind the mathematics that you may only vaguely recall from school – or perhaps never even learned!

Inside Simply Maths
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Sunset

Here is the sunset over Oxford on 18th November 2021.

 

Looking west around 4.20pm, 18th November 2021