School of Education

Improving Maths in Key Stages 2 and 3

An Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) report

Leaving school with a good GCSE in maths is a prerequisite for progressing into quality jobs, apprenticeships, and further education. The skills we learn at school help us with everyday life too, whether that’s putting up a shelf or working out how much money we have left after we’ve paid our bills. Yet too many of our young people do not make the grade and, as a result, risk social and economic exclusion.

These pupils are disproportionately drawn from disadvantaged homes. Last year, over half of those eligible for free school meals had not achieved the expected level in English and maths by age 16. That’s one in two young people from low-income households who are automatically denied access to secure and well-paid careers, as well as to further study. This is not just a personal tragedy for the individual; it’s a waste of talent on a national scale and a huge barrier to improving social mobility

This guidance report offers eight practical, evidence-based recommendations that are relevant to all pupils—but particularly to those struggling with their mathematics.

The report uses the best available international research and consulted experts, teachers, and academics. The following School of Education colleagues were involved in writing the report:

  • Dr Colin Foster
  • Dietmar Kuchemann 

View EEF website for more information

Download guidance report (PDF)

Posted on Monday 4th December 2017

School of Education

University of Nottingham
Jubilee Campus
Wollaton Road
Nottingham, NG8 1BB

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