By Sarah Harris

Last updated at 4:48 PM on 8th August 2011


Carol Voderman: Hard-hitting report says youngsters should study maths until they are 18

Carol Voderman: Hard-hitting report says youngsters should study maths until they are 18

Children should be taught maths up to the age of 18 to avert the 'educational catastrophe' of 300,000 teenagers a year failing to grasp the basics, a hard-hitting report claims.

By 16 there is a 'colossal' ten-year range in mathematical learning between students, the report by former Countdown presenter Carol Vorderman reveals.

She calls for a 'mathematics for citizenship' course to be introduced for those studying A-levels that don't involve the subject. And she recommends splitting the maths GCSE into two qualifications, one designed for those going on to A-level.

Miss Vorderman, who studied engineering at Cambridge and has said maths is her 'passion', believes 16-year-olds should continue with lessons in the subject to develop the skills that are vital in today's world. Many still struggle with numbers in the workplace and in their personal lives despite 11 years of being taught maths.

Universities and employers are being forced to hold catch-up classes while the lack of numeracy threatens the country's economic prosperity. This is because almost half of teenagers 'fail' GCSE maths, meaning they do not get a grade C or above.

Even those students who 'scrape' a C 'are still incapable of truly understanding how to calculate percentages and fractions or to interpret data', according to Miss Vorderman.

She was asked by David Cameron and Michael Gove to head a taskforce reviewing maths education when the Conservatives were in opposition in 2009.

The findings of the report, A World Class Mathematics Education for All Our Young People, are likely to be considered as part of the Coalition's review of the national curriculum in England. Last year, 41.6 per cent of students – more than 317,000 – failed to get a grade C or above in maths GCSE.

About 85 per cent of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland give up maths after GCSE. However, in 'almost every developed country, all, or nearly all' students continue for a further two years.

The report says maths education must continue in 'some form' between 16 and 18. This would tie in with the reform to raise the age of participation in compulsory education to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015.

For the most able, continuing with maths study would involve AS and A-levels. However, new qualifications should be introduced such as the 'mathematics for citizenship' course aimed at those with a grade C or above at GCSE who are studying A-levels where no maths is involved.

Those with a C or below should sit a 'mature GCSE', which would involve studying vocational units in basic numeracy, financial calculations and spreadsheets.

Former Countdown presenter, pictured here with Des Lynham, said universities and employers are being forced to hold 'catch up classes' because young people are not good enough at maths

Former Countdown presenter, pictured here with Des Lynham, said universities and employers are being forced to hold 'catch up classes' because young people are not good enough at maths

The single maths GCSE should be withdrawn when twin qualifications being piloted become widely available in 2015. One, applications of mathematics, concentrates on more functional maths without going into great depth.

The other, methods in mathematics, contains the formal elements such as algebra that students need if they go on to AS and A-level.

Improving the maths knowledge of primary school teachers, encouraging more daily maths activities in primaries and helping parents who 'have a fear of mathematics themselves' are also among the recommendations.

The report, released by the Conservative Party, adds that Key Stage Two national curriculum maths tests should end in their current form as 'most secondary schools pay no attention to the results'.

Education Secretary Mr Gove welcomed the report and admitted the country is 'falling behind our competitors when it comes to mathematics education'.

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

They should just offer Scottish education throughout the UK. All children are encouraged to stay on for the extra two years and all do maths during this time, but it is offered at four different levels. Scottish education is second to none, and when we moved there from England with young chldren I was amazed how professional the Scottish teachers are. So maybe they also need to look at the qualifications and training of teachers in the rest of the UK.

Report abuse

Anon of west Kernow, UKIP you're our only hope now Your comments about my spelling are somewhat fatuous. Two exclamation marks are used for emphasis - perfectly correct. Try reading some books. A space AFTER a question mark - really !!! Don't make comments about dumbed down education (notice the spelling) when you can't even spell the term.! Don't bother responding with more superfluity !!!!!!! Ooops !!!!! - John Landers, Cambridge, 8/8/2011 17:11----------That's right John, there's no fool like an old fool is there. Read your over dramatic drivel again and then you might come to realise that you should have stuck to calculus or integration and not silly little rants to re emphasise your self-righteousness. Engineers like aviators use mathematical formulas as tools to do their work. With your wonderful maths background I would've thought you'd have known that. Perhaps Carol Vorderman can help you there, who knows.

Report abuse

I taught Maths during my time as a Supply teacher (2006-2010) and what surprised me was the fact that many of the 11-15 year-olds could not even add up! They would not listen to any instructions, even those based on a 'how to' format. Since they did not understand, they did their own thing, usually creating chaos. They couldn't be bothered and I could do little about it! Being an old sod, I learned my Maths by rote, including my tables, as others have already said. Unfortunately, the Educators (people who dictate what we teach, but usually have no regular teaching or even contact with kids!), have decried rote learning and have issued instructions to teach otherwise. "Children must UNDERSTAND what they are being taught, not repeat things verbatim." This has been going on for some thirty years or more. Have they understood? NOOOO!

Report abuse

They don't seem to be taught mental arithmetic nowadays, on the phone to a call centre I gave the advisor the answer to an amount we were talking about then waited for a while so he could do it on his calculator and yes I was correct. And wasn't he surprised?!

Report abuse

This 'bimbo' should come into 2011. Like it or not there are now electronic pieces of equipment called 'Calculators'. If they allow them into exams you certainly do not need to stay at school until 18 years of age specifically to learn how to add up, subtract, multiply and divide. - Pip Waller, North Yorkshire, 8/8/2011 9:51 ++++++++ Congratulations. Dumb comment of the century award goes to you. Let me ask you this. If you are so innumerate (that means lousy with numbers, by the way) how are you going to know whether the answer on the calculator is right or not? Hey? You press the wrong number. Numeracy and an ability to estimate gives you a reasonable chance of spotting your error at the end of the process. I just hope I never have to rely on someone like you when it comes to calculating my insulin shots.

Report abuse

If maths was taught in relation to real world problems, as in using Pythagoras Theorem to find the height of something, maybe kids would understand the subject better, for example we were taught about quadratic equations but never told what they are meant to solve, so to me it was a waste of time. Mind you, if kids can't even do the basics, then that is a failure of the teacher.

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.