The Royal Society
The Royal Society published its third report in its State of the Nation series: Science and Mathematics Education 5-14, in July 2010.

This report aims to:
1. Provide a summary of the quantitative information that is available on attainment and the workforce in respect of 5–14 science and mathematics education across the UK;
2. Explain the factors considered to have been influential in producing any observed trends; and
3. Make recommendations to policy makers on specific actions to improve 5–14 science and mathematics education in the UK.

The report can be found at http://royalsociety.org/State-of-the-Nation-Science-and-Mathematics-Education-5-14/.

Free Summer School for prospective teachers of A level Maths
The National STEM Centre, working with NCETM and MEI, is offering a summer school for prospective teachers of A level Mathematics from 23-27 August this year. Thanks to the generous funding of the Clothworkers’ Foundation this course is being offered at no cost to teachers. For more details please see: http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/news/summer-school-for-new-mathematics-teachers

General Teaching Council for England
The Government is to abolish the General Teaching Council for England. More information can be found at the GTCE website http://www.gtce.org.uk/ and guardian.co.uk .

Further Mathematics Support Programme
The FMSP has developed some exciting new resources for schools, colleges, universities and students.

Further Mathematics Video
With the help of Chris Budd and several students, the FMSP have produced a new video to promote Further Mathematics. This can be viewed on their website at http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/student_area/whystudyfm3.php . It will soon also be available on the Maths Careers website at http://www.mathscareers.org.uk/ . Copies of the leaflet featured in the video (as well as other leaflets and posters) are available free of charge - see http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/leaflets.php for details.

Free online A level Core Mathematics revision sessions
FMSP have also produced a series of recordings of online revision sessions covering each of the topics in A level Core Mathematics. Details of how these can be accessed are available at http://www.furthermaths.org.uk/files/CoreRevisionSessionsSummer2010.pdf .

Science and Learning Expert Group Report
The Science and Learning Expert Group published their report Science and Mathematics Secondary Education for the 21st Century on the 25 February 2010. The report can be downloaded at http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/scienceandsociety/site/learning/2010/02/25/new-science-and-learning-expert-group-report/.

QCDA - Mathematical Pedagogy Perspectives
To help teachers prepare for the pilot, QCDA has commissioned some well-respected educationalists to provide perspectives on mathematical pedagogy. These materials look at how ongoing curriculum and pedagogy development projects relate to GCSEs in mathematics and are designed to provide a starting point for teachers developing ideas for delivering the pilot qualifications.

The documents and details about the pilot GCSE mathematics qualifications for September 2010 can be found on the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency's (QCDA) website http://www.qcda.gov.uk/24956.asp

Maths Inspiration - 2009/10 Programme
The spring programme of Maths Inspiration has now been published. Details at: www.mathsinspiration.com/events.html

Details of the shows and how to book are on the website.

ACME
Post 16 Mathematical Pathways Paper
ACME has published a paper to provoke discussion about proposals that all post-16 learners in England should study mathematics. A copy of the paper can be downloaded from the ACME website. Please feed in your views to ACME at acme@royalsociety.org before Friday 18 December 2009.

2009 Conference Summary Report
In March 2009, ACME held a conference at the Royal Society on The Future of Mathematics in Schools and Colleges - A policy perspective. The conference summary report has now been published and is available from http://www.acme-uk.org/news.asp?id=148.

Mangahigh Launches First Curriculum-Compliant Online Maths Games
London, UK: 24 September 2009 – Against a backdrop of UK maths standards falling to an all-time low (UK students now rank only 24th in maths proficiency, according to the PISA international league table), Mangahigh (www.mangahigh.com) today launches the first curriculum-compliant, games-based learning site focusing on maths for secondary school students. Mangahigh is led by Dr. Marcus du Sautoy (maths professor at the University of Oxford and Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science) and Toby Rowland (co-founder of King.com, one of the world’s largest casual games companies), who have teamed up to improve children’s maths ability.

A Level Mathematics & Further Mathematics - An investigation into the reasons for increased uptake in 2009
A paper has been written following the completion of the Maths Uptake survey recently run by the Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI). A copy of the paper can be found here at http://www.mei.org.uk/files/pdf/A_Level_uptake.pdf.

IMA Position Statement on Awarding Bodies and Teaching Resources
The IMA is concerned about developments in the market for textbooks and other teaching resources for courses preparatory to public examinations which it believes to be detrimental to the public good. [Statement pdf]

Keep maths textbooks independent of examining boards
Maths teachers are feeling increasingly obliged to buy textbooks and other teaching resources endorsed by examining boards and written by examiners, fearing that their pupils would be disadvantaged if they did not, according to a statement by the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. [Press Release pdf]

Advanced level Diploma in Science - Have your say
The Diploma in Science is an exciting new qualification aimed at 14-19 year olds. The Foundation and Higher levels will launch in September 2011 and the Advanced level in September 2012. It will provide students with a combination of essential science knowledge and skills that employers and education look for.

To find out more about the Diploma in Science visit www.sciencediploma.co.uk

The Diploma in Science is still in development; if you would like to help shape this new qualification, click here to register to attend a focus group.

Find out about the big changes in GCSE Mathematics
In January 2010, AQA are launching their new GCSE Mathematics specification for first teaching in September 2010. Changes to their specification include a greater emphasis on problem solving and applying mathematics. To understand these changes and hear back from the pilot centres, have a look at AQA's short leaflet: Your guide to the BIG changes in Maths.

There is also a Maths Resource Zone which includes:
                                                                                draft specification
                                                                                draft specification summary leaflet
                                                                                draft specimen papers and mark schemes

New resources will be added to the Resource Zone over the coming months.

Mathematics Development Programme for Teachers (MDPT): a national CPD programme for non-specialist teachers of mathematics
From summer 2009, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) will be recruiting participants for the Mathematics Development Programme for Teachers (MDPT). This is a national CPD programme to support increase the number of specialist teachers of mathematics.

The courses will develop participants’ subject and pedagogical knowledge and enable teachers without a first degree or secondary initial teacher training (ITT) specialism to teach the subject more effectively, to learners aged 11-19 with more confidence, expertise and enthusiasm.

The structure and length will be flexible to reflect the needs of individual participants and comprise a mix of tuition and in-school development. The course will start in summer and run for 40 days over the following academic year. The courses are free for participants and the TDA will fund supply cover for participating schools. Teachers who meet the eligibility criteria and complete the course will receive a £5,000 incentive on completion of their course.

Participants should ideally have at least one year’s experience of teaching mathematics, for some of their timetable.

For further details on the MDPT, including a list of providers, visit:www.tda.gov.uk/mathscpdcourse.

Alternatively contact Anthony Howells at Anthony.howells@tda.gov.uk for more information.