Dave Gale has been teaching maths for over 20 years. He's an advocate of our Core Maths qualification and has been teaching it since 2018. Here he discusses the benefits of this 'real-world' specification, not just for supporting other A-Levels, but in preparation for life too.
Published
Tuesday 9 Jan 2024
Author
Dave Gale
Maths has often been regarded as an abstract and detached subject – a set of formulas and equations existing in a vacuum of theory. Teachers are faced with the question "when will I ever use this?" on a regular basis, even though they know that maths solves tangible problems and has practical applications.
Recognising this, AQA has a useful course that has a different focus on the way maths is taught, aiming to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world, while making explicit links to other subjects. Enter Core Maths, or, to give it its full name, 'Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies'. This course is designed for students that want to continue studying maths post-16 and puts the focus firmly on being useful.
In this blog, I'll explore how Core Maths breathes life into the subject through real-world scenarios and contexts, such as managing finances in the age of social media sponsorship deals. Get ready to discover how maths can be seen as not just abstract concepts designed to hurt the brain, but as a vital tool for understanding, problem-solving, and thriving in the world beyond the classroom.
AQA's Level 3 Certificate in Mathematical Studies sets itself apart by staying clear of complex algebra and theory. Instead, it prioritises practicality, including competent and efficient use of a calculator.
Core Maths is all about giving students the skills they need for study, for work and for everyday life. These skills come to life when you think about something as simple as drinking coffee. Students can dissect the cost to consumers, the profits for coffee companies, the environmental impact and the waste produced.
Why does bringing real-world scenarios into maths education matter so much? Imagine you're planning a road trip. You need to calculate the distance, fuel costs, and travel time. More importantly, you're going to have to make assumptions and estimations to model this scenario successfully. That's real-life maths in action and it matters because it's relevant and relatable.
Good Core Maths teaching understands this and uses such scenarios to ignite students' interest. By solving practical problems, like budgeting for a road trip or unpicking the statistics behind a news headline to see if it's plausible, students see maths not as a set of rules to learn, but as a valuable tool they can use to help them make sense of the world.
Whether it's analysing graphs in science class or critically examining mathematical claims in geography, Core Maths prepares students to navigate our data-driven world.
Core Maths seamlessly integrates real-world contexts into its curriculum, with the need to learn aspects of maths driven by the context. Students get the chance to tackle problems that mirror the challenges they'll face outside the classroom and, while algebra isn't ignored completely, it's brought in when the context requires it.
For instance, financial maths in Core Maths extends beyond the classroom to address practical issues like tax, National Insurance, payslips, and the ever-changing cost of living. There is an algebraic formula for working out mortgage repayments, and your students are going to be genuinely interested in using it. These skills aren't just essential for personal finance but are invaluable when analysing business sustainability or viability using Fermi estimation.
Additionally, the ability to identify correlations and critically analyse them, as well as evaluate the validity of mathematical claims, are exactly the sort of skills needed to untangle the sometimes 'less than honest' approach that media claims can take.
I've conducted surveys with my Core Maths classes over the past few years and the results are consistently positive. There's an overwhelming sense of "this has helped in my other subjects and the finance parts are going to be useful when I'm older". Something that I find particularly interesting is that the way we conducted the survey itself then leads on to being subjected to the kind of critical analysis that we've been teaching throughout the course. Students really enjoy seeing what claims I can legitimately make based on the survey.
The ability to analyse graphs and interpret data becomes an invaluable skill when delving into scientific research for medicine, understanding complex social issues in sociology, or pursuing humanities-based university courses. These always involve more data analysis components than students are expecting and lecturers are very enthusiastic about students having studied maths post-16.
Imagine a student studying history or ethics, faced with a research project that requires sifting through data and drawing meaningful conclusions. Core Maths equips them with the skills needed to carry out and analyse these tasks with confidence. Correlation analysis helps students find links between seemingly unrelated phenomena in their humanities research or can be used to show that a commonly held belief is, in fact, not supported by the data.
We had a student who entered the course with a GCSE Maths grade 4. This is, of course, a pass but it's fair to say that many maths teachers would not see this as a strong starting point for continuing maths post-16. This student, thanks to the significantly different approach of Core Maths, went on to achieve an impressive grade B in the subject.
When asked about what they thought had made the difference, they said: "I never really understood the point of what I was doing at GCSE, but in Core Maths, I could see where everything was going to be useful, and it made it easier and more interesting to learn." This statement speaks volumes about the power of Core Maths in bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical application.
This student's journey isn't an isolated incident. It exemplifies how Core Maths has the capacity to change a student's perception of mathematics. Even students that come in with higher GCSE grades are struck by "this really isn't what I thought maths was all about. I wish GCSEs could have been more like this".
Core Maths is more than just a subject; it really changes the way people think. Students are more motivated and the refreshing approach is excellent at re-awakening teachers' love of maths. This AQA course really helps you feel like you're teaching students how to get on better in life and helping them develop the maths skills they actually need to know.
Core Maths is a subject that brings maths to life and helps students thrive in real-world contexts – so why not embrace it?
Banish the "when will I ever use this?" question and help guide students through their journey of pragmatic maths education, leading them to a more successful future.