Using the resources with mathematically
gifted pre-16s
Increasing
numbers of pupils are now sitting GCSE Mathematics early.
The
obvious question is:
- What
should they do next?
This
leads to:
- How
can schools provide adequate teacher support for such pupils?
MEI
are producing web resources that will help to address these issues
by providing a natural progression for such pupils.
These
resources will:
- Enable
gifted pupils to develop their skills in Mathematics
- Encourage
the pupils to learn more independently, so that they require less
direct teacher support
- Encourage
and develop pupils' enjoyment of and curiosity about mathematics
Meeting the needs of mathematically gifted
pupils
Pupils
who are mathematically gifted need the opportunity to develop their
talent. During this academic year we intend to produce resources
targeted at these pupils. The resources will cover the standard
Mathematics AS and A level materials. They will also include opportunities
for pupils to tackle challenging problems, accessible using the
techniques learned through the AS/A level courses, but requiring
a higher level of insight and creativity to solve than the standard
textbook/examination questions. We intend to include interactive
materials and links to the best relevant Mathematics resources we
can find on the Internet. We want these pupils to develop real curiosity
and enthusiasm about mathematics.
We
hope that these resources will capture the imagination of mathematically
gifted pupils and will encourage them to develop their mathematical
talents to the full. The resources will enable pupils to sit AS
and A level Mathematics early if they wish, so that they can certainly
go on to complete A or AS level Further Mathematics too, in years
12 and 13. However, we believe that enrichment should be at least
as important an aspect of these resources as acceleration.
We
have received DFES support to help produce these resources and will
be working with the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
(NAGTY),
based at Warwick University.
These
resources will begin to become available from September 2003. |
