And I find myself agreeing with Mr Gove...

He doesn't look like the sort of man I might agree with but... click the pic to read the Guardian article and you too might have a first time life experience!

This just can't be right, but for the first time ever I find myself in agreement with the very man behind disastrous exam policy decisions and education reform that lacks real grit and understanding of the young people with whom it works.  Today I note in this Guardian article that he not only suggests maths should include more real life, interesting, useful detail, but that all students should be encouraged to continue to study Maths at post 16 level even if not as A'Level.  At my last school a very wise head of sixth form, Cath, listened carefully to the Heads of science and maths and introduced a compulsory Maths for scientists course for those choosing A'Levels in Science who had not chosen A'Level Maths.  I would indeed agree with Gove and go one step further and seriously encourage all students take a maths course alongside their Level 3 courses to support their continued development of numerate skills for life.  Yes indeed it is important that young people can understand the findings of opinion polls or more important in their lives calculate the best rates available on phone tariffs and the like.  But it is likely that most students in post 16 will either at Level 3 or in their studies beyond need to carry out a research project of some credibility.  The maths needed for this has always been a discreet lesson I have taught to my A'Level students, many of whom had not tackled a Maths problem for 2 or even 3 years and often began the sessions with the low esteem default position of "I havent done any maths for ages and I wasn't very good at it then so I dont get this now." A barrier to be chipped away in advance of getting them to really engage with the required skills to calculate statistical evidence and present it in a fashion that was efficient and effective, rather than using a Doughnut chart cos excel can do them in more colours and they look pretty.