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The Dirty Secret The Education Authorities Doesn`t Want Parents Knowing

Why schools alone cannot get the best maths grade for your son/daughter

Date : 23/01/2015

Author Information

Ravi (leic`s #1 Gcse Maths Higher Paper Tutor)

Uploaded by : Ravi (leic`s #1 Gcse Maths Higher Paper Tutor)
Uploaded on : 23/01/2015
Subject : Maths

Today I want to address the lack of Maths skills in the UK, and why the education system is largely at fault for this.

There`s a very dirty secret which is being kept under the rug from the parents.

Maths is and has been for decades the one subject which kids across the UK consisently fall short in. Maths skills are needed in needed in almost every business, in almost every role. Yet the country is still screaming out for more mathematicians - and offering them way more pay than those without (you`ll see that`s actually part of the problem!).

So is Maths really that hard? Is it just that some kids are born naturals, and the rest have to accept this shortcoming and make it up elsewhere? That simple is answer is No.

Maths is different from the other subjects. It`s conceptual and technical. It`s a language that relies little on words, and prefers to speak through numbers and patterns. For this reason, most people never really grasp Maths well, and hence why there is such a huge shortage of Maths skills in the UK.

As with any subject, the students can only learn as well as they are taught - and Maths is generally the worst taught subject in schools. Here is why:

The best mathematicians don`t become Maths teachers

Many excellent English, Science and Geography minds in the country end up teaching - but not the best Mathematicians. Why is this you ask? It`s simple:

The best mathematicians get paid way more in other jobs, than in teaching

Few English teachers become high paying journalists or best-selling authors. The best historians have few options for employment with their skills. The same scenario is typical for most subjects. Therefore teaching is a relatively well-paying job, when compared to the opportunities available to them.

The best mathematicians have a whole world of opportunities. They work in investment banks or prestigious financial roles. It`s nearly impossible to become a doctor without being an excellent Maths student. Engineers, Architects, Analysts - these all require good Maths skills. Even policemen with Maths degree receive a fast-tracked career. It should come no surprise that the best mathematicians go for the six-figure salaries, compared to the heavy stressful workloads and modest salary of a teacher.

So why does this affect your child Maths grade?

Because the best mathematicians are tied up with higher paying jobs, those willing to take the teaching roles are generally average mathematicians. It`s a big ask to show your students how to thrive when you never truly mastered the subject yourself - and sadly it shows.

In late 2013, a study was conducted by the OECD, which compared where England`s 16-24 years old fared amongst 24 European and Asian countries. Do you know where England ranked in Maths?

21st out of 24 - beating only Spain, Italy and the US

I`m not pointing fingers at the teachers - after all, Maths departments have about 5-10 teachers for the whole school. On average, each Maths teacher is responsible for anywhere between 250 to 500 students each. What is undeniable is that the system is out-dated, under-resourced and has been failing for years.

Children are too dynamic and varied for the UK-education one-size-fits-all approach. It takes creativity, passion, and good old sweat to unlock their best - and this requires a dedicated expert at the helm. After all, Gordon Ramsey was trained by Marco Pierre White, not the head chef at his local Harvester.

This resource was uploaded by: Ravi (leic`s #1 Gcse Maths Higher Paper Tutor)

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