Further maths? Comp and grammar

I don't think the gcse makes a difference, though?

You're right - the 2019 admissions for Cambridge maths and computing do require further maths. That's changed since my son went to an open day about computing so I'm very grateful my mistake was pointed out - especially as they won't be the only ones. The sixth forms we're looking at do offer it but I know quite a few don't.

Dd's comp offer further Maths A level but i can't see anything about further Maths gcse. Looked it up for my old grammar and again further Maths A level offered but nothing mentioned in the year 9 options section about Further Maths GCSE.

My DD has just started yr 10, we've been told that Further Maths GCSE is not available for her year (and below) even though they have offered it in the past, with a high uptake.

The impression the school gave is that the FM GCSE is being discontiued - is that right?

Or maybe I'm just getting a bit confused on this thread between the GCSE and A Level...?

my ds is in Y11 so he's going to be accessing the FM network. Any tips for him noble giraffe?!

Interesting thread. I loved maths at school - favourite and best subject, and I did maths a level and further maths as level - at 'only a comp' so did the further maths with teacher at lunchtime, there were two of us. It didn't occur to me to do maths at uni though, I did humanities subjects, and lots of extracurricular stuff. Why not just wait and see what they fancy doing in a few years time? Their interests may change considerably.

The DfE have announced a 'level 3 support programme' will be launched soon, £16million to try to improve post-16 maths including all schools offering FM. So things may be very different in 5 years.

The suspicion is that they are going to wind up the further maths support network, which would be bonkers.

My ds's secondary school doesn't offer FM A level - he has to do it online by himself.
The system is so unfair - students who already have the advantage of being in a grammar school have the added advantage of being taught a funded FM A level course.

Sorry, OYBK- I know you did. I was talking about other posters.

I said 'only' to differentiate from a comp & a grammar, which this thread is comparing. But I can see as its a bit like using 'bog standard'.

I had the option to move into a catchment by house price school which gets best results in area. But I choose to go to a not so local 'average' comp. On the face of it not such good results but when you look at the detail it does better with high achievers. Especially in Maths .

Its not perfect but very happy with my choice. It did offer FM at GCSE pre-changes, but not now, I just hope it still offers FM at A-Level by time DC gets there.

that's why I put it into inverted commas Bert. It does students a massive disservice.

I do wish people wouldn't say "only a comp"

Fresh, dd was 'only' at a comp too. She self studied the AQA further maths level 2. with agreement of school I don't think that's so needed now with the new gcse. It is much harder. However, if they are keen on maths, then yes FM could be a good option for them.

I'm not sure how you define a top university unless you are talking about COWI which is subjective anyway, Outside that tiny group there are lots of really good maths courses and it's better for your dc to choose for the course they like rather than the name they like.

The question in this thread is surly about whether FM at GCSE is needed to be a good Mathematician at A-Level and by extension FM at A-Level as well.

I dunno, not DC not been through 6th form yet but I am hoping not as they are looking at a top Maths Uni and DC only at a comp. Got my fingers crossed the new Maths GCSE is up to the challenge on its own.

Senua it would be very difficult to get a good grade in STEP 3 without doing further maths at that is what the content is based on.

It is true that most Cambridge maths offers are based on STEP 2 and STEP 3, with the latter depending on FM content.

A very small number of offers - particularly to students from outside the UK - might not depend on STEP 3 as the students involved have not covered the UK FM syllabus. Such offers are typically for students who have demonstrated strong ability in interview/through Olympiad performance.

very much so user. It's also out of date in terms of Warwicks offer. But it gives a general feel and whilst I'm procrastinating enough to spend time on this thread rather than working, I'm not procrastinating to the point of trawling lots of maths department webpages for entry requirements

Unfortunately not all schools offer FM and there is concern that now there are increased funding restrictions that mean many students are only allowed to take three a levels. It takes a leap of faith to only take maths, fm +1 other when they can't even test the water with a FM AS level.

Kitten: the information on the FM page you link to is incomplete.

I wonder is this going to be normal in maths now for all the good unis.

Defining "good" universities as top 20, no, this can't possibly be normal because there simply wouldn't be enough students applying with further maths A level. Only the top few universities can really insist on further maths. And for them to actually insist on it is controversial, since not all sixth forms/schools can offer further maths.

AAB with an A in maths would get you into many "good" Russell Group maths courses in Clearing. Up to a half of Maths students at such courses won't come in with Further Maths.

I suspect Fresh was talking about maths degrees.

FMSP has some info about some unis that require or encourage FM for their maths degrees.

Ah ok thread moved on. Sorry. Still think someone aiming for a Maths degree would be more than happy to do FM, and I'd have thought that was accessible to all, even if it means moving at sixth form.

Thanks Fresh.

Fresh

Imperial has not made A level FM compulsory at all, only for Maths degrees. Which is pretty expected.

This thread is about GCSE FM in any case.

Imperial has already made A* in Further Maths compulsory for this years applications. I wonder is this going to be normal in maths now for all the good unis. But sorry didn't mean to derail.

Regarding the specific point regarding Further Maths GCSE - it isn't necessarily particularly valuable. My daughter's school is one of the top 10 state schools in the county for GCSE results. 70% of the girls go on to do A-level Maths. They don't offer Further Maths GSCE. I asked why, and they said they preferred to offer depth in Maths in their own way, rather than the breadth of the Further Maths GCSE syllabus.

No idea whether that is "right" or not, but it certainly indicates that it is not the be all and end all of a good academic school!