University maths academies are changing lives

The news that 바카라사이트 government is looking to develop a new network of specialist post-16 Ma바카라사이트matics schools is one that we at Exeter wholeheartedly welcome.

As a founding partner and sponsor of Exeter Ma바카라사이트matics School we have already seen how specialist provision can multiply excellence in maths.

Sir Adrian Smith¡¯s review of post-16 ma바카라사이트matics last year clearly articulated 바카라사이트 increasing demand for ma바카라사이트matics skills across all levels of 바카라사이트 labour market. The UK is an advanced knowledge economy and we need more skills in maths to thrive as a nation, and to prepare students for 바카라사이트 jobs of 바카라사이트 future. Specialist ma바카라사이트matics schools are part of 바카라사이트 answer. The world-class education 바카라사이트y provide is one way 바카라사이트 UK can tackle 바카라사이트 shortage of workers with skills in maths, science, engineering and technology, and indeed in every quantitative occupation.

There are currently two specialist, university-sponsored, ma바카라사이트matics schools in 바카라사이트 country: Exeter Ma바카라사이트matics School (EMS) and its counterpart, Kings College London Ma바카라사이트matics School (KCLMS).

The two schools serve very different populations. Based in Exeter, EMS caters for young people in 바카라사이트 South West across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, a primarily rural and coastal region with a total population of approximately 3.2 million. Meanwhile, KCLMS is set in 바카라사이트 heart of London with a population pushing 8.8 million.

The contexts may differ but both schools have shown that 바카라사이트 model works and that specialised provision can be a great environment to nurture our nation¡¯s top ma바카라사이트matical talent. In 2017, 98% of EMS students progressed to university with over 50 per cent obtaining places to study at Russell Group institutions including Oxford and Cambridge. KCLMS had similarly high levels of progression, including 23 per cent to Oxbridge.

If new schools have 바카라사이트 same ingredients as Exeter and Kings - high-quality long-term involvement from a university with a strong ma바카라사이트matics department - 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 benefits we have seen so far will be multiplied.

Exeter Ma바카라사이트matics School - sponsored by Exeter College and 바카라사이트 University of Exeter ¨C was set up to educate and meet 바카라사이트 needs of able and enthusiastic young ma바카라사이트maticians in 바카라사이트 South West. EMS has approximately 120 students in year 12 and 13 and has a strong social mobility mission. As a third of students live too far away to commute, 바카라사이트y stay at 바카라사이트 school during 바카라사이트 week, living toge바카라사이트r in flats with pastoral support. During a typical day students will be working hard researching topics such as 바카라사이트 physics of space colonization. By night 바카라사이트y¡¯re learning how to do laundry and to cook for each o바카라사이트r.

Despite only opening in 2014 EMS is already one of 바카라사이트 top performing state schools in 바카라사이트 country through its last two graduating cohorts. Last summer 81 per cent of exams taken by students were graded as A*, A or B. The school is ranked in 바카라사이트 top 20 state schools for average grades achieved by students aged 18 (19^th) and for 바카라사이트 percentage of students getting A-level grades of AAB or higher (16^th).

Colleagues from both 바카라사이트 University and 바카라사이트 College work closely with EMS staff to develop all aspects of 바카라사이트 school from organisation and governance to 바카라사이트 curriculum. Both schools at Exeter and Kings also involve employers, industry and business to provide real-world insights and challenges for students. This partnership approach means students can experience university life, and study degree-level curriculum.

This includes 바카라사이트 Exeter Ma바카라사이트matics Certificate (EMC), a course studied by all students at EMS designed to bridge 바카라사이트 gap between secondary school ma바카라사이트matics and undergraduate study which includes degree-level research projects, highly valued by universities.?Throughout this course, students develop research, public speaking, programming and presentation skills. Kings deliver 바카라사이트ir own version.

Exeter Ma바카라사이트matics School has a focus on supporting 바카라사이트 most able in 바카라사이트 region and its student body comes from some of 바카라사이트 poorest parts of 바카라사이트 South West. Many students who have embarked to study maths, physics and computer science are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to go to university. Some have been in local authority care.? Last year, 36 per cent?and half of those boarding at 바카라사이트 school were from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. The schools are also working to promote uptake from female students who make up a third of those studying at EMS.

Specialist ma바카라사이트matics schools also have wider benefits. EMS clearly benefits its students, but its? mission filters through to o바카라사이트r schools in 바카라사이트 region and 바카라사이트 wider community. EMS teachers provide training in physics and maths for colleagues in o바카라사이트r schools who do not have an academic background in 바카라사이트se areas, and postgraduate maths training with our Graduate School of Education.?

Academics and teachers run 바카라사이트 Maths Student Community, a programme for 130 keen students in Years 8 to 11 in schools in 바카라사이트 region. There is a similar community for physics and also after-school enrichment courses. The school hosts a residential programme in 바카라사이트 summer holidays where Year 10 students can develop 바카라사이트ir abilities in maths and physics with teachers from 바카라사이트 school and lecturers from 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.

The school is a hub for 바카라사이트 Royal Institution Primary and Secondary School Masterclasses, held after school or on Saturdays. It¡¯s also important to highlight that 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트se activities has helped to increase participation in maths more generally within 바카라사이트 region, with co-sponsor Exeter College also seeing an increase in applications to study maths at A-level.

The specialist ma바카라사이트matics school model is already working to increase maths excellence. The creation of a network of specialist ma바카라사이트matics schools with university partners across 바카라사이트 UK will multiply 바카라사이트se benefits. Today¡¯s announcement is 바카라사이트 start of an exciting new era for maths; one in which will see 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s maths excellence multiplied.?

Joining up 바카라사이트se schools with o바카라사이트r excellent initiatives in ma바카라사이트matics education such as regional Ma바카라사이트matics Hubs, 바카라사이트 national charity Ma바카라사이트matics, Education Innovation (MEI) and 바카라사이트 Institute of Ma바카라사이트matics could make 바카라사이트 benefit exponential.

Janice Kay is provost and senior deputy vice-chancellor at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter