Top maths graduates lured into teaching

mathematics teachers are rare, but scholarships and paid in the workplace contribute to attract graduates

When Dan Kirby graduated first class in mathematics, career choice was not difficult. He had always enjoyed mathematics at school and I knew that I wanted to convey their enthusiasm to others.

"I did an internship with a firm of actuaries in Leeds during my career. Was a large company, but we did not find the idea of ??sitting in front of a spreadsheet nine to five very exciting, "he said.

Back to the financial sector, he enrolled in a graduate certificate a year in education (PGCE) course at the University of Oxford, where a large part of their training school, gave the clock whale. Once qualified, had the choice of jobs. He chose the Cooper School in Bicester, and was recently voted the most passionate teacher there for students 11 years.

arithmetic According to national charity campaign, negative attitudes towards mathematics are trained in the school and are derived from the inability of teachers to inspire passion for his subject.

mathematics teachers are rare. This year, with a quality PGCEs 2:02 mathematical applications required are 10%, according to the register teacher training graduate. Professor John Howson, director and former government adviser DataforEducation.info on teacher supply, estimated that there are 1.6 requests to fill vacancies each of mathematics in schools, or a fifth of candidates for the arts and humanities. In short, the group of graduate mathematicians shrinks.

• This pressure works through schools, with offers of mathematics often the most difficult to fill. Joan McVittie, Head of Woodside High School in North London, one of the best in the Ministry of Education 'improved' schools, losing four outstanding teachers of mathematics, three of them go abroad. His replacement is difficult. She says that some of the applicants do not have decent quality mathematics and some do not have the communication skills ". I interviewed a number of candidates that I would not put before the children"
• Measures have been taken to remedy the situation. Teach First, a charity established in 2002 to bring the best graduates in the most challenging schools, notes that the poor performance of students from poor households is much higher in mathematics than other subjects. About 1332 teachers trained by Teach First in the last two years, nearly a quarter are specialists in mathematics.

£ 20,000 scholarships are now available for the training of teachers of mathematics in first class degrees and the Graduate Teacher program, an alternative to PGCE offers paid training on the job.

The future of mathematics

Anne Watson, professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford, recognizes the dilemma broaden the appeal of teaching mathematics, maintaining its intellectual rigor. Receives many requests from people who do not have the necessary training in mathematics. "You must understand the issue and have a wealth of knowledge to be able to teach well," she said. "We are looking for people with a creative approach to mathematics, you're just evidence."

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