Universities Specialist Maths Schools Alison Wolf Kings College

Universities & Specialist Maths Schools Alison Wolf King’s College London Maths School

http: //www. kcl. ac. uk/m athsschool/about/school. aspx#ad-image-0

Our structure • Opened September 2014 • Sponsor trust is the university • University appoints majority of governors with others co-opted • Small and sixth form only: 140 pupils • Everyone does Maths, Further Maths, Physics • About 40/60 female/male split

Our academic record • An A-level average point score per entry of 272. 9. This places King’s Maths School as the top performing state school in the country on this measure. • 94. 5% of entries are A*/A/B. • 100% of students attained A*/A in A-level Mathematics, with 83% awarded an A*. In this regard, we are the top school (state or independent) in the country. • The value added by King's Maths School places us in the top 1% of schools: so students make more progress here from their GCSE results than in 99% of the schools around the country.

Our history (1) • 2012: Michael Gove, as Secretary of State for Education, creates policy of encouraging universities to set up specialist maths school • Inspired by Kolmogorov school/Russian maths schools • Part of general STEM strategy – STEM education now accepted as crucial policy area across Westminster but this was specifically (and unusually) aimed at top end, increasing flow of really good young mathematicians from state system

Our history (2) • Big push by government to encourage universities, including letters to individual VCs • In the end, only King’s and Exeter established schools • Internal opposition in some institutions – ‘distraction from core mission’ • Concerns expressed at VC level that this would be ‘elitist’, and that WP efforts needed to be inclusive. (VC and Council backing essential)

Our history (3) • Maths School is central to our WP efforts and has been praised (and visited) by Les Ebdon, Director of OFFA • We run – and have always run – outreach classes for GCSE age (KSS/Y 10 and Y 11) • Also, with additional money from King’s, expanding Summer and Easter Schools

Current government policy Strongly in favour of specialist maths schools. Top priority for No 10 if Conservatives win this election

The role of universities • Discernible shift in policy, under May, away from markets/competition to emphasising role of universities in their local communities • One key aspect of this is involvement in school education • Current HE Bill was not this government’s • PM has explicitly linked fee increases to involvement with schools

“This will create a talent pipeline, through which pupils from all backgrounds will have a greater opportunity. . ”

Next steps • The No 10 Policy Unit would like to convene a meeting, soon after the election, at Downing Street, to discuss next steps with interested universities • I have been asked to contact key players in the mathematics associations and in universities • Critically important to discuss alternative possible models, funding issues

Please email me directly if you might wish to attend. ALISON. WOLF@KCL. AC. UK