Head of NCETM recommends binning current maths GCSE format for 3 tiers

[noblegiraffe]

Charlie Stripp of the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) has made some suggestions for improving maths GCSE given the exceptionally low grade boundaries for the higher paper leading to teachers 'gaming the system' by training pupils to spot questions rather than developing their maths ability.

He has suggested switching to a 3 paper system. The lowest paper (let's call it Foundation) would go up to grade 4. The middle paper (let's call it Intermediate) would test grades 4-6 and the higher paper (Higher) would focus on grades 7-9 and really stretch the most able.

The difference between this suggestion and the old three tiers (except being able to get a pass on Foundation which used to go up to a D under three tiers) is that all students would sit 2 out of the three papers. This would make it far easier to set grade boundaries for 4/5, they wouldn't be so ridiculously low, and everyone would get at least one paper where they could really show what they know.

He also recommends a slimmed-down GCSE for resitters which really focuses on what they need to know.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-maths-chief-calls-new-slimline-resit-only-gcse

It's worth knowing that the NCETM is entirely funded by the DfE. One can only hope that they listen to him, but that would require them admitting that the new GCSE has been a complete balls-up and they are not very good at that. The TES story includes the obligatory bland DfE quote at the end that everything is fine really.

It’s sort of a mixture between the old 3 tier system and whichever board used to have a legacy syllabus where each paper covered a grade (or possibly 2) and students were entered for two papers depending on the level they were working at.

The suggestion is there are 3 papers Aragog.

Paper 1 - Foundation
Paper 2 - intermediate
Paper 3 - higher

Pupils would either be entered for 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. Everybody would have to take paper 2.

BubblesBuddy I fear you don't understand/have a clue. I think I'm right that your Dd's went to boarding schools.
How many, non SEN, private schools do you know which regularly got U,G,F,E and D's or will get 1,2 or 3's in (I)GGSE's, none around us.
The Tat that is Gove and his Bullington chums in government deliberately made GCSE's hard to please Private & Grammar school heads( and their parents)*
My youngest is on cause for 3/4 at both English and Maths, thanks to Mr Gove, my wife would love 10 minutes with him, he may not wish it happens. He is a lovely caring hardworking boy, who hates to fail, but he will and need to sit 2 years of subjects he grow to hate we know 6 FE lecturers who do resit maths/English at FE colleges locally, all say the same. Why because he is a lower ability student.
I think we should return to something like CSE and GCE for Maths/English or the once muted 16plus
Definitely cut out enforced resits or teach level 1/2 functional maths/English. Some may later come back to maths if they don't get turned off it at 18.
I did CSE maths in 1985( I'm old) head teacher said it was what lowest 2 sets needed. I have never been unemployed and now earn £44000.
So no not ever child needs higher maths, typical Tory policy, only for the top 15-20%, stuff the rest

You seem to assume that all Private school children are good at Maths.

Thinking about this, private school kids don't have to sit this shambles of a GCSE. Nor do they have to do compulsory resits They have the freedom to take more suitable options.