AS Core Revision

1
BERKSHIRE FURTHER MATHEMATICS CENTRE
2
LSC Conference February 2nd 2007

• Networking Further Maths

Let Maths take you Further
3
Networking Further Maths
Let Maths take you Further

• What is the Further Mathematics Network?
• The Berkshire Further Mathematics Centre
• Case Studies
• Critical Success Factors

4
What is the Further Mathematics Network?

• The Further Mathematics Network is a national
  expansion of the MEI Access to Further
  Mathematics pilot project, originally begun in
  2000.
• 46 Further Mathematics Centres have been set
  up, to cover the whole of England.
• These Further Mathematics Centres are based on
  the Lead Centre model established during the
  pilot project.

5
The Vision of the pilot project

• The country will be covered by groups of schools,
  colleges and universities, working together to
  offer Further Mathematics to students in their
  area.
• Every student who would benefit from Further
  Mathematics will have access to study it, at
  least to AS level. (This includes ALL students
  who intend to study for a maths-related degree as
  well as for Mathematics itself.)

6
Did the pilot work?

• Feedback from students and teachers was
  extremely positive

• Students performance in their standard
  Mathematics AS/A-level was enhanced.

• Students learnt to learn more independently.

• Students had the opportunity to meet and work
  with students from other schools and colleges who
  are keen on Mathematics.

7
Further Mathematics Network mission statement

• The Further Mathematics Network aims to give
  every student who could benefit from studying
  Further Mathematics the opportunity to do so.
• The Further Mathematics Network will work to
  increase the number of students studying AS/A
  level Mathematics and Further Mathematics.
• The Further Mathematics Network aims to provide
  training and support to teachers of AS/A level
  Mathematics and Further Mathematics.

8
What is a Further Mathematics Centre?

• A Further Mathematics Centre is a collaboration
  between institutions, which could involve one or
  more of LEAs, universities, colleges and schools.

• These institutions work together to coordinate
  the Further Mathematics provision in their region.

• Each Further Mathematics Centre is managed by a
  Further Mathematics Centre Manager.

• Schools, colleges and students served by the
  Centre form its membership.

9
What is a Further Mathematics Centre?
The Centres have a regional identity as part of
the National Network. They do not belong to a
single institution.
10
The Activities of a regional Further Mathematics
Centre

• In order to meet its principal aim or raising the
  profile of A Level Mathematics and Further
  Mathematics, a local centre will
• Make Further Mathematics tuition available to any
  student in the region who cannot access it
  through their school
• Deliver regular Revision Days and Enrichment
  events to students in the region, including
  network students
• Offer training opportunities to local teachers
  and tutors

11
The Berkshire Further Mathematics Centre

• The Further Mathematics Centre in Berkshire is
  based on three hubs located at
• Little Heath School, Tilehurst
• (supporting West Berks and Bracknell Forest)
• Highdown School, Caversham
• (supporting Reading and Wokingham)
• Langley Grammar School, Slough
• (supporting Slough and Windsor Maidenhead)

12
The Berkshire Further Mathematics Centre Managers

• Cassie Moran (Langley)
• Anne Guinamard (Highdown)
• Jeff Trim (Little Heath)

13
The Berkshire Further Mathematics Centre

• The Management Committee includes representatives
  from Schools, LEAs and universities
• Roger Loveys (Highdown)
• Gill Emerson (Wokingham LEA)
• Martin Marsh (Slough LEA)
• Marion May (West Berks LEA)
• Paul Glaister (Reading University)
• Marianne Hughes (Langley Grammar School)
• Richard Browne (National Further Maths Network)

14
What does the Berkshire Further Mathematics
Centre offer?

• Tuition to students who cannot access Further
  Maths through their school
• And
• Revision/Study Days
• Enhanced links between institutions
• Raised profile of Mathematics
• Online study resources through MEI
• CPD Opportunities for staff

15
Network Tuition

• The Network aims to provide a supported
  distance-learning service
• Typically tuition ranges from 1 hr per week, for
  a single AS module, up to 2 hrs per week for the
  full AS level (3 modules)
• The student is expected to use the structured
  online resources for study and practice
• Tutors are available by email and may offer
  additional study sessions

16
What about costs?

• Tuition costs are 230 per student per module
• A complete AS course costs 690 per head
• HOWEVER
• LSC funding brings in 840 per AS qualification,
  leaving schools enough for texts and exam fees.
• In short No cost to schools, No profit to FMC.

17
Where have things got to in Berkshire?

• 38 students across Berkshire
• 8 tutors employed
• Providing tuition service for 11 schools
• All 3 managers have dedicated time
• Most schools visited
• All schools receive information
• Launch event held in March 2006
• A Range of presentations given
• Regular Revision/Study events since May 2006

18
Events for 2006/7

• Saturday 30th September
• Yr 12 Algebra Booster Course
• Wednesday 6th December
• Discrete Maths (D1) Revision Day
• Wednesday 7th February
• Yr 11 Enrichment Day
• Saturday 17th March
• Applications (M1/S1) Revision Day
• Saturday 12th May
• Pure Maths (C1/C2) Revision Day
• Wednesday 6th June
• Further Pure (FP1) Revision Day

19
Core Maths Revision Day
20
Algebra Booster Course
The best thing was that I understood all about
coordinate geometry which I didnt understand at
all before! The day was very useful and
enjoyable.
21
Decision/Discrete Maths Revision
I managed to learn the course in 3 hrs!
It was great helped me to remember forgotten
concepts.
22
The effect the Network has had on Mathematics

• The Further Mathematics Network, combined with
  the new structure for AS/A-level Further
  Mathematics has significantly boosted the numbers
  of students taking AS/A-level Mathematics and
  Further Mathematics.
• In 2006 the numbers taking AS examinations in
  Further Mathematics numbers increased from 5054
  to 6292. This is a 24.5 increase, following on
  from a large increase the previous year.
• In 2006 there were around 500 network students.
  There are currently over 1000 studying for
  modules in 2007.

23
Case Studies

• Common Timetable blocks
• On-site support
• Peripatetic tuition

24
Common Timetable blocks

• Reading LA is operating a common timetabling
  system which allows for flexible teaching of
  minority subjects.
• Thames Valley University is also involved in this
  scheme to enable wider vocational courses to be
  studied by school students.
• Through this facility a number of students from
  other schools have been able to travel to one
  host institution to join an existing Further
  Maths group.

25
On-site Support

• One institution has a number of students studying
  more advanced Further Mathematics modules which
  are not available in other local schools.
• In this case a member of staff from that
  institution is being paid to work as a network
  tutor to support these rare modules.

26
Peripatetic Tuition

• In another school there is a group of 6 students
  needing AS tuition.
• The timetable blocking does not apply and the
  travelling time is prohibitive.
• In this case a network tutor visits for a weekly
  lesson in the host school.

27
Critical Success Factors

• Flexibility
• Management Structure
• Experience, Expertise and Resources
• Collaboration
• Quality of Products

28
Flexibility

• Local solutions for local problems
• Able to offer all exam boards
• Provision negotiated with schools/colleges
• Financial arrangements can be varied
• Able to adapt provision from year to year
• Students can taste and see
• On-site tuition or local cluster or online
  learning

29
Management Structure

• Plural Management
• Part of a National Structure
• National Support Network
• Paid release from home institutions
• Dedicated time
• Strong local links through the Management
  Committee (especially the LA Consultants)

30
Experience, Expertise and Resources

• Experienced managers and tutors
• All exam boards taught
• Communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• Large bank of resources
• MEI Online resources

31
Collaboration

• Working side-by-side with host staff
• Long experience of the area and local department
  teams
• Aiming to understand and meet needs
• Enables schools to retain their best students
• Management teamwork
• Students meeting and working together

32
Quality of Products

• Experienced tutors
• Quality of tuition
• Quality of events such as Revision Days
• Online Resources (constantly updated)

33
Contacts and Information

• Jeff Trim
• Little Heath School, Tilehurst, READING
• 0118 9439 522
• jefftrim_at_fmnetwork.org.uk
• anneguinamard_at_fmnetwork.org.uk
• cassiemoran_at_fmnetwork.org.uk
• Web based information
• www.fmnetwork.org.uk