Makhan Singh Makhan Singh B.Eng; M.A (Couns.)B.Eng; M.A (Couns.)

Project Manager Project Manager m.singh.1@bham.ac.ukm.singh.1@bham.ac.uk

HoDoMS

www.moremathsgrads.org.uk

Setting the sceneSetting the scene

What’s it all about?What’s it all about?

MMG is a 3 year pilot project funded MMG is a 3 year pilot project funded by HEFCE under the widening by HEFCE under the widening Participation remit. Participation remit.

MissionMission: To widen participation and : To widen participation and increase the numbers of graduates increase the numbers of graduates from mathematical sciences so that from mathematical sciences so that the demands of industry, commerce the demands of industry, commerce and education might be better met.and education might be better met.

MMG is being project managed MMG is being project managed centrally from Birmingham Universitycentrally from Birmingham University

But why..? Research shows...But why..? Research shows... Increase in A-level entries overall (660,000 in 1989 to Increase in A-level entries overall (660,000 in 1989 to

760,000 in 2004).760,000 in 2004).

Decrease in A-level maths Decrease in A-level maths ((85,000 in 1989 down to approx 53,000 in 2004).85,000 in 1989 down to approx 53,000 in 2004).

Young peoples perception of maths is that it’s Young peoples perception of maths is that it’s ‘boring’, ‘hard’, ‘no relevance for future life’‘boring’, ‘hard’, ‘no relevance for future life’

25% of Maths classes taught by non-25% of Maths classes taught by non-mathematicians (NFER 2006)mathematicians (NFER 2006)

And also…And also…

Gender and age imbalance with Gender and age imbalance with Higher EducationHigher Education

Under-representation amongst Under-representation amongst certain ethnic groupscertain ethnic groups

Poor information about career Poor information about career options puts young people off options puts young people off (QCA 2006)(QCA 2006)

Widening Participation:Widening Participation:Target GroupsTarget Groups

Black AfricanBlack African Black CaribbeanBlack Caribbean PakistaniPakistani BangladeshiBangladeshi Women Women Adult LearnersAdult Learners

Pilot AreasPilot Areas 3 sub-regions are working with approx. 7 3 sub-regions are working with approx. 7

schools/colleges and 1 sub-region to schools/colleges and 1 sub-region to research:research:

West Midlands – Coventry UniversityWest Midlands – Coventry University Yorkshire & Humberside – Leeds UniversityYorkshire & Humberside – Leeds University London – Queen Mary, University of LondonLondon – Queen Mary, University of London Sheffield-Hallam University – focusing on Sheffield-Hallam University – focusing on

HE Curriculum Development which gives a HE Curriculum Development which gives a variety of delivery options and attract widen variety of delivery options and attract widen participationparticipation

Four Theme ApproachFour Theme Approach

To help overcome the various To help overcome the various barriers and perceptions as well as barriers and perceptions as well as raise aspirations, MMG is raise aspirations, MMG is implementing a four-theme implementing a four-theme approach.approach.

1. Learner Theme – Pupils1. Learner Theme – Pupils 2. Teaching Theme – Teachers2. Teaching Theme – Teachers 3. Careers Theme – Pupils and Teachers3. Careers Theme – Pupils and Teachers 4. HE Curriculum Theme – HEI’s4. HE Curriculum Theme – HEI’s

Getting to a wider audienceGetting to a wider audience

www.moremathsgrads.org.uk

What Happens Next?What Happens Next?

All 3 pilot areas now have:All 3 pilot areas now have:

1 x Subject Officer1 x Subject Officer 1 x Careers Officer1 x Careers Officer 0.5 x Admin Officer0.5 x Admin Officer

Project Highlights to dateProject Highlights to dateof Coventry & Warwickshireof Coventry & Warwickshire

Improving A Level Standards Workshop for Improving A Level Standards Workshop for 50 local teachers50 local teachers

Maths Fun Day at Coventry University for Maths Fun Day at Coventry University for 150 Year 9 pupils from local schools150 Year 9 pupils from local schools

Stall at Coventry Transport Museum Stall at Coventry Transport Museum Connexions Careers FairConnexions Careers Fair

‘‘Maths Murder Mystery’ EventMaths Murder Mystery’ Event ‘‘Maths & Football Stadiums’ SeminarMaths & Football Stadiums’ Seminar

Project Highlights to dateProject Highlights to dateof East London (Queen Mary of East London (Queen Mary University of London)University of London)

Over 30 subject specific, curriculum related Over 30 subject specific, curriculum related and careers awareness raising events have and careers awareness raising events have been held at various schools and colleges been held at various schools and colleges in the region.in the region.

Good, positive feedback from event Good, positive feedback from event evaluations with over 500 respondents evaluations with over 500 respondents including students and staff.including students and staff.

Project Highlights to dateProject Highlights to dateof Yorkshire and the Humberof Yorkshire and the Humber

School enrichment work shopsSchool enrichment work shops Mechanics experimentsMechanics experiments Maths at work daysMaths at work days Higher Education experience daysHigher Education experience days 18 18 maths undergraduates maths undergraduates

recruited to work with pupils at mmg recruited to work with pupils at mmg eventsevents

Project future outputs will Project future outputs will include...include...

Producing a Tool Kit of resources for Maths Producing a Tool Kit of resources for Maths teachers across the countryteachers across the country

Maths careers DVD with resources aligned Maths careers DVD with resources aligned to the national curriculumto the national curriculum

More Maths Grads will aim to devise a More Maths Grads will aim to devise a programme of study, piloted and aligned in programme of study, piloted and aligned in the 3 regions together, for a national maths the 3 regions together, for a national maths competition with curriculum, employer and competition with curriculum, employer and parental inputsparental inputs

National event to be held in 2009 with all National event to be held in 2009 with all partners and schoolspartners and schools

Project Highlights to dateProject Highlights to dateof Sheffield Hallam Universityof Sheffield Hallam University

The HE curriculum theme is currently The HE curriculum theme is currently in a research phase, with in a research phase, with interviews/discussions being held interviews/discussions being held with students and academicswith students and academics

Amongst other things also aiming to Amongst other things also aiming to understand what enthuses students understand what enthuses students on Mathematics courses (and what on Mathematics courses (and what does not)does not)

..Wow, maths is amazing!

Winning Hearts and Minds of Parents,Teachers, Employers, Partners and of course…Young People.

Let me show you how maths is

used by chocolate makers….