What do you think about the Governments plans to pay maths teachers more money?
I feel that the issue is not simply about money. The real problem is the shortage of people who decide to take mathematics at school and university. Will recruitment to other subjects be affected? I don’t think so. I suspect that the only effect of these plans on other teachers will be a slight resentment. Why do you think there is a shortage of maths teachers? I think part of the problem is with the curriculum. Unfortunately, the academic system is very curriculum-based. First, the GCSE system does not prepare the most capable mathematicians for the A-level course. Second, students taking mathematics are beginning to realise that it is a tricky subject to take on at A-level. Therefore, many choose to do subjects that they imagine are easier, to get better results. The curriculum is extensive and has to be covered in a relatively short time. The Government will have to be brave, and will have to reconsider the AS/A2 system. How can pupils be turned on to maths? Possibly we need two dif
