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AMSP's free Core Maths platform contains free adaptable SOW

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AMSP's free Core Maths platform contains free adaptable SOW

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Tim’s main areas of interest are the application of multilevel models in analysing assessment data and the analysis of patterns of uptake and attainment in schools and colleges.

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Which Core Maths professional development course is right for me? - AMSP

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Increasing participation in Core Maths, AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics

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The AMSP holds discussion meetings in March to support teachers get the most out of the pre-release materials

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Core Maths Pre-Release Discussion Meetings - AMSP

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Share ideas, resources and practical that come out of this year’s Core Maths pre-release materials.

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The pre-release material comes out on the 1st March each year and can be accessed via:

AQA: Centre Services website (You need a ‘myAQA’ account to access this. More information on how to set up an account is here. You may need to enter your centre number, click on ‘Resources’ and filter for Maths, L3 Mathematical Studies. If you sort by newest first it should be at the top.

Edexcel: Maths in Context Qualification page (You will need an Edexcel Online (EOL) account to log in. If you don't already have an EOL account, you can ask their exams officer to add them to the school/create them an account)

OCR: Teach Cambridge website (If you don’t already have an account, see your exams officer. More information on how to set up an account is here)

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Why Offer Core Maths? Presentation for teachers

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Why Offer Core Maths? Presentation for teachers

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£900 per student studying Core Maths

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In October 2023, the Prime Minister announced proposals to introduce the Advanced British Standard for 16 to 19 year olds, a new baccalaureate-style qualification that takes the best of A levels and T Levels and brings them together into a single qualification.

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Join us for a free conference on Friday 17th November in London to get hands on with these activities and more.

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Exploring data with technology activities (tagged as KS3/4 but great to introduce technology to CM students)

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Exploring data with technology activities (tagged as KS3/4 but great to introduce technology to CM students)

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We are a charity committed to improving lives through advances in maths education

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Activities and resources to promote Core Maths from Year 7 to enrolment

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Activities and resources to promote Core Maths from Year 7 to enrolment

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Read about how different schools and colleges have introduced and strengthened Core Maths

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Increasing participation in Core Maths, AS/A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics

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Only around 7% of A-level students not taking A-level maths are taking the alternative Core Maths qualification, according to analysis from the Royal Society. This leaves around 150,000 A-level students a year with little or no maths education after the age of 16.

Almost ten years since the introduction of Core Maths, the Royal Society has looked at the regional picture of provision to investigate why student take-up remains so low. Data from 2022 shows that less than a third of state-funded schools and colleges offer the subject, while almost 10% of local education authorities in England have no schools or colleges with Core Maths entries, making access to Core Maths a post-code lottery.

The Royal Society has commissioned an interactive map showing the take-up of Core Maths by local authority for the 2021/22 academic year.

Core Maths focuses on understanding mathematics and data in their broadest sense, in the real world, equipping students with the mathematical, statistics and data skills needed for their post-16 studies in most subjects, for personal development, financial awareness, further study in a wide range of programmes, and employment. Core Maths is designed to meet the substantial unmet demand from UK employers for quantitatively skilled people - including in arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences - and teaches skills at a higher level than can be gained through qualifications normally taken at age 16.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, says: "In a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin an increasing number of jobs, young people will require analytical skills more than ever before - but we're letting a huge proportion of them enter the workplace without sufficient maths, stats and data skills. The Prime Minister is committed to ensuring all young people study some form of maths to 18 - Core Maths can be a way of delivering that but at the moment, provision is just not there."

In the 2021-22 academic year only 11,683 students across 740 schools and colleges sat the Core Maths exam - an estimated 7% of the potential numbers. More than half of these schools and colleges entered ten candidates or fewer and geographically, provision is unevenly spread. This comes despite recommendations in a 2017 report for the Department for Education to ensure schools and colleges offer Core Maths to all (see Smith report (PDF)).

Smith said: "There is a huge proportion of students that are more than capable of studying Core Maths and there is no reason why they should not be encouraged to do so. We just need to make sure they have access to it. A comprehensive plan to support the significantly greater take up of Core Maths qualifications would be an important stepping stone towards achieving a goal of maths for all to 18."

According to Alasdair Staines, Course Leader for Core and GCSE Mathematics at The Sixth Form Bolton, awareness of the Core Maths remains low, relying mostly on word of mouth between students and siblings. However, uptake at the college has risen year on year with now over 220 students taking Core Maths. In a survey conducted by the college, 98% pupils rated their experience as positive, calling it: "challenging", "enjoyable", "helpful", "practical", "relevant" and "rewarding". Grades have also risen, with 50% A-B from 2022-23 from a cohort of grade 4-9 GCSE maths students.

Financial and personal development skills were rated highly in the surveys, and teachers highlighted the finance aspect as a major draw, from applying for and paying off student loans, to understanding their pay packets.

Staines added: "What we do find is a lot of our students haven't had the most positive experience of maths in secondary schools, which is one of the reasons they decided not to do A-level maths. They don't necessarily see the relevance of what they're doing mathematically in GCSE and how it links into other things. That's why, when we get them into Core Maths, we start with the finance straight away so they can start seeing the relevance."

Smith said: "Maths skills are not solely the preserve of mathematicians - just like the ability to read and write, these are essential, foundational skills that every young person should be equipped with if they are to leave the education system as well-rounded, active members of society. Core Maths is a viable and ready-made offer that can be rolled out across schools and colleges at a relatively low cost, but with invaluable gains."

The Royal Society has previously called on universities to incentivise prospective undergraduates to take Core Maths by including it in entry requirements, and for greater promotion of the value of Core Maths to employers (see 2022 statement (PDF)). While the general view of Core Maths among universities is positive, formal acceptance of the qualifications as part of entry requirements remains inconsistent. This lack of formal support and awareness is exacerbated by the fact that Core Maths results are not reported by JCQ (Joint Qualifications Council) alongside A-levels.

The need to raise awareness of Core Maths and provide necessary support, comes ahead of the Royal Society's upcoming Mathematical Futures Programme report. This will propose a new approach to mathematical education that encompasses a fusion of mathematics, statistics, data science and computer science. It will explore mathematical skills required by every citizen to thrive in society and offers pathways for the UK to develop mathematical and data education. A discussion paper (PDF) setting out the Society's vision was published in September 2023.

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Lack of Core Maths provision fails students, says Royal Society | Royal Society

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The Royal Society calls for comprehensive plan to provide more students with access to Core Maths qualifications

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Includes free Core Maths platform on Integral - classroom resources, interactive resources and auto-marked section tests

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The resources on these pages have been developed by the AMSP and partners we've worked with. All have been developed or can be used to support students' Core Maths learning, deepening and extending their numeracy and problem-solving skills.

Extensive support for teaching and learning in Core Maths

Resources to support Core Maths lessons and activities

Support to help you get started with Core Maths

Cat Van Sarloos, the AMSP's Core Maths Professional Development Lead, has created a padlet which contains all the information you need to get started with Core Maths, including links to specifications, resources and free PD.

Further resources

The STEM library includes the extensive resources developed by the Core Maths Support Programme (CMSP).

QUIBANS (Questions Inspired By A News Story) is blog site with lots of news items that can be used to provoke mathematical questions.

What's Going On in This Graph? - Graphs, maps and charts from The NY Times - and an invitation to students to discuss them live.

A set of six postcards and six posters are available to help you to promote Core Maths to your students, and feature problems your students can attempt. If you would like to receive printed copies of these items, please send a request to [email protected] .

This document explores how skills you learn from a Core Maths qualification can help you in further study and the workplace:

We've developed a 30 minute presentation for students and parents/carers about the importance of studying maths post-GCSE. It outlines the options available and provides compelling reasons for choosing to take an advanced maths qualification.

Skip to content

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The resources on these pages have been developed by the AMSP and partners we've worked with. All have been developed or can be used to support students' Core Maths learning, deepening and extending their numeracy and problem-solving skills.

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Welcome to the Core Maths Collection! This website is in its very early stages and I'm building it as a way to draw together a variety of resources for people that are interested in Core Maths.

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The AMSP has a team of Core Maths advocates, who teach Core Maths in schools and colleges across England. Our Core Maths advocates work in a diverse range of…

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Maths Inspiration is a national programme of interactive maths lecture shows for teenagers.

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Maths Inspiration is a national programme of interactive maths lecture shows for teenagers.

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Maths Inspiration is a national programme of interactive maths lecture shows for teenagers. We want to show 14-17 year olds that there's far more to maths than taking exams. We give them a chance to experience the UK's most inspiring maths speakers presenting mathematics live in the context of exciting, real-world applications. Our shows are exceptional value for money.

We usually hold our events in theatres, because nothing beats the experience of watching a show in person, but we also do occasional live shows online.

Maths Inspiration began in 2004. Since then over 200,000 teenagers have attended our shows making us one of the largest and most successful maths enrichment programmes in the UK.
MATHS FEST. We also run a parallel set of events in the spring called Maths Fest. Maths Fest is an all day event, aimed at sixth formers and Year 11s who are already 'into' maths. The all-day format includes Maths Slam in which students get a chance to present lightning maths talks, a short session on exam-technique, and time during breaks to tackle puzzles, talk to university students, and visit exhibitor stands. Details of Maths Fest can be found at: www.Maths-Fest.com REGISTER WITH US HERE

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Maths Inspiration - Inspire your teenagers with our interactive maths show

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Maths Inspiration is a programme of maths enrichment lecture shows for teenagers around the UK. It's a chance for Year 11s and sixth formers to experience inspiring maths speakers live, in theatres and concert halls

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Real articles with questions and answers - some suitable for KS3/4 too

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From The Times Newspaper: The over-55s keeping classrooms going amid a teaching crisis Richard Lewis will be 70 on Tuesday. A former City ba...

This is taken from a Daily Telegraph article (with paragraphs removed to save space). Shrinkflation is speeding up at an alarming rate T...

With thanks to Cat van Saarloos for the data file, here's a Quibans from the Daily Mirror. Police release names most commonly linked wit...

From The Times Newspaper: The over-55s keeping classrooms going amid a teaching crisis Richard Lewis will be 70 on Tuesday. A former City ba...

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Items that can be used to provoke mathematical questions. Particularly useful for teachers of Core Maths.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Core Maths Amplify activities collection

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Core Maths Amplify activities collection

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Particularly useful for homework, pre-tasks or remote learning

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Core Maths - Core Maths A (MEI) Level 3 Certificate - H868 - OCR

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OCR Core Maths A (MEI) qualification information including specification, exam materials, teaching resources, learning resources

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Core Maths - Core Maths B (MEI) Level 3 Certificate - H869 - OCR

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OCR Core Maths B (MEI) qualification information including specification, exam materials, teaching resources, learning resources

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AQA | Mathematics | Level Three | AQA Certificate Level 3 Mathematical Studies

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Maths is for everyone. It is diverse, engaging and essential in equipping students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be. At AQA, we design qualifications and support to enable students to engage with, explore, enjoy and succeed in maths. By putting students at the heart of everything we do, our aim is to support teachers to shape what success in maths looks like for every student.

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mathematics in context (level 3 core maths)

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Core Maths Mathematics in Context (Level 3 Core Maths)

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Our Mathematics in Context qualification enables students to improve their knowledge of maths and understand how to apply it in the real world.

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Professor Sir Adrian Smith's review of mathematics education for 16- to 18-year-olds in England.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The report includes Professor Sir Adrian Smith's analysis and recommendations to increase participation and improve mathematics education for 16- to 18-year-olds in England.

The letter responding to the review thanks Sir Adrian and outlines plans to support his recommendations.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Smith review of post-16 mathematics: report and letter

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Professor Sir Adrian Smith's review of mathematics education for 16- to 18-year-olds in England.

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University of Leeds Core Maths Research Project

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University of Leeds Core Maths Research Project

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Blog by Dr. Rachel Mathieson, Centre for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Policy.
This blog post was originally written for the Edge Foundation.
When it comes to post-compulsory maths, England has poor participation rates in comparison with other developed countries, despite rising A-level maths entries, and the fact that maths has, for some years now, been the most popular A-level - in 2018, 90,000 students took the subject.

However, over 200,000 students each year pass their GCSE with a grade C (now 4) or above, but then give up studying maths. There are many reasons for this, such as the narrowness of the post-GCSE curriculum, widespread problematic attitudes towards maths, and the perceived difficulty and abstractness of the A-level mathematics course.

Higher education and employers alike have long been bemoaning the lack of numeracy and quantitative skills amongst new entrants, who often have not done any maths since they took their GCSE. Core Maths qualifications are intended to encourage more students to continue with maths beyond GCSE by providing a very different kind of maths course for post-16 students.

At Leeds, we have been looking at how Core Maths is going in schools and colleges up and down the country. Teachers taking part in our research really do value the opportunity to offer a maths course other than A-level maths, which they agree does not suit all students. One teacher described Core Maths as "a really worthwhile qualification".

For teachers, the course can be a breath of fresh air. They like the fact that Core Maths is about taking concepts and skills which students have already learned at GCSE and developing ways of applying those skills and concepts in more realistic contexts. One headteacher said that Core Maths had, "provided our students with an opportunity to continue maths and maintain that subject within their profile for the future, which we felt was a really strong thing to do". The course takes a student-centred approach, and invites discussion, speculation and a critical approach to maths. It has even been described as fun!

The emphasis on financial maths is very popular with students; teachers often say they wish all students were studying at least this part of the Core Maths syllabus. Core Maths can help support students with other subjects, such as psychology, geography or business, or it can simply allow students taking arts or humanities-based subject combinations to keep maths within their study programme.

Students who have taken Core Maths believe that the course has opened their eyes to different ways of using maths, and given them a better insight into the way that numbers are used in work and in life. They believe it gives them advantages over students who have given up maths after GCSE. One student described the course as "practical and useful, and something that should be recommended to people who want to know how they can apply maths to real life."

The biggest challenges for centres are how to fit Core Maths into their option blocks and their timetable, and whether to target the course at particular students or allow students to opt in. Both models are used successfully: it depends on what the priority is for each centre. Some use Core Maths specifically as a support course, targeting it at students taking particular curriculum subjects, or tying it in with certain study programmes. Others position Core Maths as an enrichment that any student can opt into.

Universities are beginning to take a positive view of Core Maths where students have taken it to enhance and support their post-16 qualifications. The University of Bath has recently become the first university to incorporate Core Maths qualifications officially into their offers for students, from 2020 entry onwards. The announcement in the Chancellor's 2017 Autumn Budget of £600 extra funding per student taking a Level 3 mathematics qualification, is another sign of the value of continuing with maths beyond GCSE.

For more information about Core Maths, visit the Advanced Maths Support Programme website. For enquiries about our research, visit our project website where you will find more information and contact details.

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Could Core Maths encourage more students to continue with maths beyond GCSE?

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When it comes to post-compulsory maths, England has poor participation rates in comparison with other developed countries, despite rising A-level maths entries, and the fact that maths has, for some years now, been the most popular A-level - in 2018, 90,000 students took the subject.

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Core Maths - Core Maths A (MEI) Level 3 Certificate - H868

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OCR Core Maths A (MEI) qualification information including specification, exam materials, teaching resources, learning resources

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The Core Maths B (MEI) qualification is fully supported by free resources developed by MEI. You can access those resources by logging directly into the secure part of MEI Website - Integral.

To obtain the login and password, complete the online subscription form. Resources available from Integral include schemes of work, practice papers, lesson ideas and topic assessments.

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Core Maths - Core Maths B (MEI) Level 3 Certificate - H869 - OCR

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The Core Maths B (MEI) qualification is fully supported by free resources developed by MEI. You can access those resources by logging directly into the secure part of MEI Website - Integral. To obtain the login and password, complete the online subscription form.

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mathematics in context (level 3 core maths)

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Core Maths Mathematics in Context (Level 3 Core Maths)

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Our Mathematics in Context qualification enables students to improve their knowledge of maths and understand how to apply it in the real world.

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AQA All About Maths - Level 3 Mathematical Studies (Core Mat…

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Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life

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Tim Harford explains - and sometimes debunks - the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life

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BBC Radio 4 - More or Less - Available now

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Core Maths Collection - Calculator Guides

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This section is meant to be a place you can look up how to do specific things for your calculator. Choose your calculator model from the drop down or click below.