More maths grads Helen Orr Project Manager

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More maths gradsHelen OrrProject Manager
www.moremathsgrads.org.uk
HoDoMS
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What is more maths grads?

• A HEFCE-funded project designed to widen
  participation and increase the numbers of
  graduates from mathematical sciences.

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More Maths Grads

• Is formally supported by the following
  mathematical societies
• Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences
  (HoDoMS)
• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
  (IMA)
• Royal Statistical Society (RSS)
• London Mathematical Society (LMS)
• Maths, Stats and Operational Research (MSOR)

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Project Ownership

• University of Birmingham (Maths, Stats OR
  Network)

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Numbers in maths

• Decline in A-level numbers (85,000 in 1989 down
  to approx 53,000 in 2004)
• 25 of Maths classes taught by non-mathematicians
  (NFER 2006)
• Prof. Adrian Smith Making Mathematics Count
  (2004)

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Widening Participation

• Is one of the strategic aims of HEFCE
• HEFCEs aim is to promote and provide the
  opportunity of successful participation in higher
  education to everyone who can benefit from it.
  This is vital for social justice and economic
  competitiveness.
• It fits with the Every Child Matters schools
  agenda

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HEFCE Definition of WP

• HEFCE definition of widening participation
• denotes activities to recruit students from the
  groups that HEIs have identified as
  under-represented and then to ensure their
  success

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WP and the mmg Agenda

• Gender and age imbalance with HE
• Under-representation amongst certain ethnic
  groups

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Schools and College Selection

• A number of schools and colleges were selected
  from three areas
• Aimhigher and Action on Access were involved in
  the selection process to ensure the schools
  satisfied the WP criteria

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Engaging with Schools and Colleges

• Three 3 sub-regions will work with approximately
  seven schools/colleges per sub-region) headed by
  a lead HEI
• West Midlands Coventry University
• Yorkshire Humberside Leeds University
• London Queen Mary, University of London
• Sheffield-Hallam University focusing on HE
  Curriculum Development

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Delivery

• Mmg will work with a diverse range of
  organisations to make mathematics more enjoyable,
  for teachers and learners.
• Close collaboration with national organisations
  such as Aimhigher and Action on Access will help
  ensure that the WP dimension is maintained as a
  key element.

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Dissemination Strategies
Networks
Long term
Website
Process benchmarking
Materials made available
Consultancy
Mentoring or coaching
Employer engagement
Workshops
Visits
Short term
Conferences
Activities
Open days
High interaction
Low interaction
Source Learning and Skills Council (adapted)
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Achieving best practice

• Practice that has demonstrably improved
  performance
• Practice that has achieved third-party
  validation
• Practice that is transferable to as many settings
  and practitioners as possible

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Best practice transfer critical success factors

• Confidence in the source of the best practice
• Sharing as an active learning process
• Ethos and culture
• Impact assessment

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Wider benefits

• Collaborative sharing and learning
• Avoiding re-inventing the wheel (or making the
  same mistake)
• Fresh perspectives
• Support network
• Ownership of and positive attitude to change

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Support from Industry

• Employer Support
• Rolls Royce PLC, Qinetiq, DSTL, Thales, Ford UK

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What Happens Next?

• Area teams will be recruited in each of the three
• regions to work with local schools and colleges
  to
• drive up performance
• Exciting resources in mainstream
• teaching and learning
• programmes will be made available
• Free downloadable resources will be made
• available to enrich maths teaching

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More maths grads Launch April 23rd
Queen Mary University of London 4.00 6.30