King's College London Mathematics School in London, England

A maths school is a type of specialist free school sixth form college[1] in England which specialises in the study of mathematics. Each maths school is sponsored by a university[2] and, frequently, also a nearby established sixth form college or multi-academy trust.[3] All students in a maths school must follow a course of study that includes A-Levels in mathematics and further mathematics.[4]

Maths schools receive additional funding from central government, above what a standard sixth form college would receive, with the aim of providing an enriched curriculum and student experience, so that students are better prepared for studies in mathematics or related subjects at competitive universities, or for careers requiring high levels of mathematical skill.[4] Maths schools are selective and all students seeking to apply must have, at minimum, a grade 8 in GCSE mathematics. Students must also sit an entry exam before being admitted.[5][6]

Features of maths schools

Maths free schools are for 16 to 19 year pupils who have a great aptitude for maths. As set out in the government’s Industrial Strategy, maths schools help to encourage highly skilled graduates in sectors that depend on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.[7] The aim of maths schools is to prepare the most mathematically able pupils to succeed in mathematics-related disciplines at highly selective maths universities and pursue mathematically intensive careers. Maths schools can also be centres of excellence in raising attainment, supporting and influencing the teaching of mathematics in their surrounding area, and are central to their associated universities’ widening participation commitments.

They are a free school,[4] however they are unique in multiple ways. Free schools are legally barred from partaking in academic selection,[8] however all maths schools are selective and therefore exempt from this rule. They are not required to follow both the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeal Code. Maths schools are, in most cases, housed in old repurposed buildings that have undergone refurbishment and remodelling. Every maths school is run by an academy trust,[9] sponsored by a university and, sometimes additionally, an existing local sixth form college or multi-academy trust.[10][11] Each year, they receive an additional £350,000 of funding from central government.[9][5] The curricula of specialist maths schools are provided through partnerships with sponsor universities. All students at maths schools must study A-levels in mathematics and further mathematics and they usually study physics and/or computer science in addition.[9][12] They are exclusively for students aged 16 to 19, whereas normal free schools and other academies can serve students from primary education onwards.[13][14]

Maths schools are required, as part of their core business, to deliver significant outreach work – programmes that help establish maths schools as centres of excellence. Outreach plans are developed in collaboration with local schools and colleges and are integral to the widening commitments of a maths school's sponsor university. They prioritise disadvantaged students, primarily girls, and raise awareness of the mathematics curriculum that will be offered by the school to potential students, preparing them for the study of advanced mathematics. Outreach programmes are complemented by maths hubs, regional leadership networks for mathematical improvement.[9]

History

Maths schools were conceptualised by Dominic Cummings during his time as adviser to Education Secretary Michael Gove in 2010.[15] They were largely inspired by the Russian institutions of the same name, established by renowned mathematician Andrey Kolmogorov.[16][17][18] They were announced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition a year later,[5] with the aim of 12 being established over a three-year period.[19][20] The first two maths schools, the King's College London Mathematics School and Exeter Mathematics School, opened in 2014.[5]

In January 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May announced her intention for every British city to have a maths schools. A budget of £170 million was allocated for this purpose.[21] In November 2017, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond granted an annual fund of £350,000 to every maths school. In March 2017 the Minister for Schools, Nick Gibb, promoted maths schools, asking multiple universities to establish them.[22]

In September 2019, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced a plan to establish nine more specialist maths schools (for a total of eleven), with four already in development in Cambridge, Lancaster, Liverpool and Surrey.[23] At the 2019 Conservative Party Conference it was announced that the eleven maths school would consist of at least one in every region of England and the establishment of one in Durham was confirmed.[24] These plans were reinforced in March 2020 when Chancellor Rishi Sunak released that year's budget. The budget dedicated £7 million to the establishment of these maths schools.[25] Further developments in 2020 included the announcement of a second maths school in London in July,[26] the opening of the third maths school, University of Liverpool Maths School, in September, and the announcement of a maths school in Leeds in November.[27] More maths schools are opening from 2022.[5]

List of current and approved future maths schools

Year of opening Name of maths school Abbreviation Region Sponsoring organisation(s)
2014 King's College London Mathematics School KCLMS London King's College London
2014 Exeter Mathematics School EMS South West University of Exeter and Exeter College
2020 University of Liverpool Mathematics School ULMaS North West University of Liverpool
2022 Lancaster University School of Mathematics LUSoM North West Lancaster University and Cardinal Newman College
2023 Cambridge Mathematics School[28] CMS East of England University of Cambridge and the Eastern Learning Alliance
2023 Imperial College London Mathematics School[26] ICLMS London Imperial College London and Woodhouse College
2023 Leeds Mathematics School[27] LMaS Yorkshire and the Humber University of Leeds and Gorse Academies Trust
Planned for 2024[29] Surrey Mathematics School[30] SuMS South East University of Surrey and Guildford Education Partnership
Planned for 2026[31] Durham Mathematics School[24] DMS North East Durham University and Durham Sixth Form Centre

See also

References

This article contains OGL licensed text This article incorporates text published under the British Open Government Licence: "Opening a 16 to 19 specialist maths school" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2022.

  1. ^ "Maths school to open with help from Cambridge University". BBC News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ "DfE invites top universities to open specialist maths free schools | New Schools Network". www.newschoolsnetwork.org. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. ^ "How to open a maths school". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "How to apply to set up a maths school for 16 to 19 year olds". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jess Staufenberg (13 December 2020). "Do maths schools have proof of concept yet?". Schools Week. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ^ Downs, Janet (12 May 2018). "The chancellor can't make maths schools add up". schoolsweek.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ "How to apply to set up a maths school for 16 to 19 year olds". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Do you know your free schools from your academies? Here's our guide to secondary schools in England". EdCentral. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Opening a 16 to 19 specialist maths school" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Lancaster University School of Mathematics, Preston, Lancashire". Lancaster University School of Mathematics. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Exeter Maths School". Exeter Mathematics School. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  12. ^ "New measures announced to help boost the nation's skills". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Free schools: the basics | New Schools Network". www.newschoolsnetwork.org. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ "What is an academy and what are the benefits? - The Education Hub". educationhub.blog.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Williamson challenges universities to open maths schools". schoolsweek.co.uk. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Specialist maths schools – some facts". Dominic Cummings's Blog. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  17. ^ "The UK has looked to Russia in a bid to improve maths teaching". The Independent. 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Free school will be first to specialise in maths". The Independent. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Free schools in England set for extra £600m". BBC News. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ "Universities urged to back maths schools". BBC News. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  21. ^ Riley-Smith, Ben (21 January 2017). "A maths school in every city: Theresa May announces new technical training drive to prepare country for Brexit". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Top universities urged to open new maths schools". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Williamson: A revolution in further education - delivering for the forgotten 50 per cent". policymogul.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Conservative Party Conference 2019: Expanding specialist Maths Free Schools". West Berkshire Conservatives. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  25. ^ David Batty (11 March 2020). "Chancellor pledges specialist maths school in every English region". The Guardian.
  26. ^ a b Joanna Wilson (8 July 2020). "New maths school targeting underrepresented groups to be developed by Imperial | Imperial News | Imperial College London". Imperial News.
  27. ^ a b Emma Ryan (16 November 2020). "All adds up as Gorse Academies Trust and University of Leeds are set to open maths centre of excellence in the city". Yorkshire Evening Post.
  28. ^ "Welcome". Cambridge Maths School. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Welcome from Andrew Roach - Director of Education". Surrey Maths School. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  30. ^ "New specialist Maths School for Guildford gets Government green light to proceed". University of Surrey. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  31. ^ "Home". Durham Mathematics School. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
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