Bodies with a say in Mathematics Education
From Teach
Who are they? What is their purpose? What is their current drive?
Supervisory UK Governmental organisations
Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
The QCDA's job will be to develop the curriculum, improve and deliver assessments, and review and reform qualifications. We want to make sure that everyone can get the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need for life in the 21st century.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) was set up under the Education Act 1997 to develop and regulate the national curriculum, assessments in schools and qualifications. In 2007 the government decided to set up an independent exams regulator, Ofqual, which has now taken on most of QCA's regulatory functions.
The government is introducing legislation in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill that is expected to make Ofqual a completely separate organisation and will transform QCA into QCDA. The bill will also specify when these changes will take place. For now, QCA remains the legal entity. QCDA will deliver, and build on, QCA's non-regulatory work.
- Source: http://www.qcda.gov.uk/8710.aspx
Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator
Ofqual is the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments in England and of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland. Our work will ensure that learners get the results they deserve and that the qualifications they receive count, both now and in the future.
"We monitor awarding organisations to make sure the way they operate is fair, consistent and follows our regulations. We also monitor exam fees so that schools, colleges and other centres can be confident they are fair. We want our decisions to be clear and understandable and will intervene when necessary when there is a risk to the fairness of the system or to an individual learner."
"We will do this by:
- ensuring that the awarding organisations that offer and deliver qualifications have good systems in place, and that they are held to account for their performance
- making sure that all qualifications offered by awarding organisations are fair and are comparable with other qualifications
- monitoring standards in qualifications, exams and tests, and reporting on our findings
- ensuring that there is fair access to qualifications for all candidates
- ensuring the quality of marking of exams, tests and other assessments to make sure that learners get the results their work deserves
- making sure that the qualifications market provides value for money and meets the needs of learners and employers
- encouraging debate about important topics, such as standards of exams and qualifications."
"As a regulator, we step in and exercise our regulatory authority where there is a risk to the integrity of the system or to a learner. We aim to be consistent in our decision-making and to make our decisions clear and understandable."
Ofqual began its interim work on April 8 2008. Royal assent was given to the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act in November 2009 that establises Ofqual as the regulator of qualifications. Ofqual will formally exist and become accountable to parliament on the 1st April 2010. Until then, we will operate as part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
- Source: http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/
Coordinating independent bodies
Joint Mathematical Council (JMC)
A forum for discussion between Societies and for making representations to government and other bodies. Concerned with all aspects of mathematics at all levels from primary to higher education.
Pupil-centred organisations
The Young, Gifted and Talented Programme (YG&T)
Its vision is to give all gifted and talented learners in England the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Young Gifted & Talented website will be closing at the end of Friday 12 February 2010. The new web pages for gifted and talented education will be launched in the near future on the existing National Strategies website, and visitors to this website ygt.dcsf.gov.uk will be automatically redirected.The National Register will also cease at this time, and will be replaced with an annual report available from the National Strategies website.
Further Mathematics Support Programme
The Further Mathematics Network enables students to study Further Mathematics A/AS qualifications, even when they are not offered directly by their school/college. The Network also supports Further Mathematics in schools and colleges that do offer it. Offers
- Student Support - helping to provide access to Further Mathematics tuition for all students;
- Teachers' Professional Development - enabling more teachers to teach Further Mathematics and level 3 mathematics within diplomas;
- Communications and Marketing - promoting mathematics and raising awareness of the benefits of studying mathematics beyond GCSE.
Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP)
A mathematics education initiative for ages 5 to 19 and the general public, based at the University of Cambridge. Includes NRICH and PLUS.
- Source: http://mmp.maths.org/
more maths grads
A project funded by HEFCE to increase and widen participation in undergraduate degrees in the mathematical sciences.
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
Seeks to drive forward improvements in gifted and talented education by providing leadership and support.
- Source: http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/
Teacher-focussed bodies
Association of Teachers of Mathematics
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics was established in 1950 to encourage the development of mathematics education such that it is more closely related to the needs of the learner. The ATM is governed by its General Council.
There are about 4 000 members - mainly teachers in primary and secondary schools. It is a registered charity and all profits from subscriptions and trading are re-invested into mathematics education.
The ATM provides opportunities to bring together all concerned with mathematics education for all age ranges. It supports local branches, informal support networks, courses and conferences.
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics produces policy statements and publishes response to National and Government initiatives. Past statements and responses are archived here.
The ATM has a number of ‘Working Groups’ whose function is to examine particular areas of the mathematics education field to develop policy, resources and action.
The high point of the year is the annual Easter conference which is a celebration of mathematics teaching by hundreds of people who still get great enjoyment from their chosen career.
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics aims to support the teaching and learning of mathematics by:
- encouraging increased understanding and enjoyment of mathematics
- encouraging increased understanding of how people learn mathematics
- encouraging the sharing and evaluation of teaching and learning strategies and practices
- promoting the exploration of new ideas and possibilities
- initiating and contributing to discussion of and developments in mathematics education at all levels
- Source: http://www.atm.org.uk/
Association of Mathematics Education Teachers (AMET)
Supports and represents the interests of all those engaged in mathematics education in higher education institutions or in partnership with higher education institutions.
- Source: http://www.ametonline.org.uk/
Mathematical Association (MA)
Seeks to improve the teaching of mathematics and its applications, and provides a means of communication among mathematics students and teachers.
- Source: http://www.m-a.org.uk/
National Association of Mathematical Advisers, Inspectors and Consultants (NAMA)
An organisation for mathematics advisers, "dedicated to promoting high quality mathematical education in the UK".
- Source: http://www.nama.org.uk/
National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM)
Website of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.
- Source: http://www.ncetm.org.uk
Teaching Statistics Trust
Supports statistics teaching in several ways, including publication of the journal "Teaching Statistics". There are many teachers involved in the delivery of statistics in schools and colleges who lack the confidence and competence to teach the subject successfully. This is due to their lack of opportunities to learn, either because they do not have a mathematical degree or such a degree did not include Statistics. The Trust has devised a distance learning course that leads to a Certificate in Teaching Statistics up to Pre-university Level. It is an ideal way to do continuing professional development that, at the same time, leads to a recognised qualification.
- Source: http://www.rsscse.org.uk/
Other Mathematics Organisations
British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics
BSRLM is a national organisation for people interested in research in mathematics education. It is a major forum for sharing research in mathematics education in the United Kingdom. It provides a supportive environment for both new and experienced researchers to develop their ideas.
- Source: http://www.bsrlm.org.uk/
Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS)
A forum representing the interests of the mathematical sciences, and promoting good practice in the curriculum. The CMS aims to provide an authoritative and objective body able to speak on the role of the mathematical sciences in UK higher education, research, business, industry and the public sector, and to engage with and respond to policy decisions that affect the mathematical sciences in these areas.
- Source: http://www.cms.ac.uk/
Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI)
A curriculum development body "promoting excellence in mathematics education". Offers GCSE and GCE examinations through OCR.
- Source: http://www.mei.org.uk/
School-oriented bodies
National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges (NANAMIC)
To assist colleges in improving quality in their work in mathematics and numeracy. The National Association for Numeracy and Mathematics in Colleges (NANAMIC) was formed in 1993 as an association of further education, tertiary and sixth form colleges with the aim of assisting colleges nationally to developing quality in all aspects of their work in mathematics and numeracy.
- Source: http://www.nanamic.org.uk/
Organisations whose mission is in a different but related subject
Science Council
- Source: http://www.sciencecouncil.org/
A leading independent body for promoting the advancement of knowledge and education in science. The Science Council is a membership organisation representing the learned societies and professional institutions across the breadth of science in the UK. Our purpose is to provide a collective voice for science and scientists and to maintain standards across all the scientific disciplines.
Numerate Professions
Engineering Council
The mission of the Engineering Council is to maintain internationally recognised standards of competence and commitment for the engineering profession, and to license competent institutions to champion the standards. The Engineering Council is the regulatory body for the engineering profession in the UK. We hold the national registers of 235,000 Chartered Engineers (CEng), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Engineering Technicians (EngTech) and Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech). In addition, the Engineering Council sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of professional competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. This ensures that employers, government and wider society - both in the UK and overseas - can have confidence in the knowledge, experience and commitment of registrants.
- Source: http://www.engc.org.uk/
Faculty and Institute of Actuaries
The professional and learned Society for the actuarial profession.
- Source: http://www.actuaries.org.uk/
Market Research Society (MRS)
A Society in the field of market research. With members in more than 70 countries, MRS is the world’s largest association serving all those with professional equity in provision or use of market, social and opinion research, and in business intelligence, market analysis, customer insight and consultancy.
- Source: http://www.mrs.org.uk/
Operational Research Society (ORSoc)
A learned and professional Society in the field of operational research. Operational Research (O.R.), also known as Operations Research or Management Science (OR/MS) is the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions. To learn more about O.R. visit http://www.LearnAboutOR.co.uk. The OR Society, with members in 53 countries, provides training, conferences, publications and information to those working in Operational Research. The Society also provides information about Operational Research to interested members of the general public.
- Source: http://www.theorsociety.com/
Royal Academy of Engineering
Promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering. As Britain’s national academy for engineering, it brings together the country’s most eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering. Its strategic priorities are to enhance the UK’s engineering capabilities, to celebrate excellence and inspire the next generation, and to lead debate by guiding informed thinking and influencing public policy.
- Source: http://www.raeng.org.uk/
University-focussed bodies
Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences (HoDoMS)
Represents Heads of Departments of Mathematics and Statistics at UK universities. HoDoMS is the body that represents UK departments of Mathematics and Statistics by co-ordinating senior members of these departments.
Higher Education Academy Mathematics, Statistics and OR Network (MSOR Network)
Supporting lecturers in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research and promoting, disseminating and developing good practice in learning and teaching across the UK.
- Source: http://www.mathstore.ac.uk/
In Education
Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
The schools network website provides information, advice and resources for affiliated members. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to raising levels of achievement in secondary education. It has a membership of over 5,600 schools and organisations. It is a registered charity. It works with headteachers, teachers and students to encourage them to develop and share new and effective teaching and learning practice, and to improve schools to raise standards and levels of achievement. In practice, headteachers and teachers design, lead and deliver its work, and continue to develop what it does.
UK Mathematics Trust
Organises national mathematics competitions and other enrichment activites. The UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) is a registered charity whose aim is to advance the education of children and young people in mathematics. The UKMT organises national mathematics competitions and other mathematical enrichment activities for 11-18 year old UK school pupils. We were established in 1996 and last academic year over 600,000 pupils from 4000 schools took part in the three individual challenges, the UK's biggest national maths competitions. Each challenge leads into a follow-on Olympiad round and we run mentoring schemes and summer schools for high performing students as well as training the team of six to represent the UK in the International Mathematical Olympiad. We also run team maths competitions for two age ranges, publish books and organise enrichment seminars for teachers.
- Source: http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/
Non-Commercial Commissions, Societies, Trusts and Royal Bodies
Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME)
An independent committee, based at the Royal Society and operating under its auspices, that aims to influence Government strategy and policies with a view to improving the outcomes of mathematics teaching and learning in England and so secure a mathematically enabled population.
- Source: http://www.acme-uk.org/
International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI)
Founded in 1908 to foster efforts to improve worldwide the quality of mathematics teaching and learning.
- Source: http://www.mathunion.org/icmi/
London Mathematical Society (LMS)
A learned Society in the field of mathematics and mathematics education.
- Source: http://www.lms.ac.uk/
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA)
A professional and learned Society in the field of mathematics.
- Source: http://www.ima.org.uk/
Royal Institution (RI)
The RI's objective has been and is to "diffuse science for the common purposes of life".
- Source: http://www.rigb.org/
Royal Society
An independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science.
- Source: http://royalsociety.org/
Royal Statistical Society (RSS)
A professional and learned society in the field of statistics.
- Source: http://www.rss.org.uk/
Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCSE)
A major development body and resource centre for statistical education.
- Source: http://www.rsscse.org.uk/
