We have a BIG problem with Maths and Science education in the UK. Internationally we are 27th and 16th respectively in league tables and domestically over 41% of our students failed to achieve maths grade C in 2011. Whilst our competitors have raced ahead we have, in the words of the OECD’s Director of Education, ‘stagnated’.
As they say 'every little helps' and the aim of Mathsmadeeasy is to improve maths achievement in the UK through written resources and coaching.
SATS (Standard Assessment Tests) tests are given at the end of year 2 and year 6. They are used to show your child's progress compared with other children born in the same month. For KS1, each child is assessed in reading, writing (including spelling and handwriting), maths (including number, shape, space and measurement) and science. For KS2 tests cover the three core subjects, English, Maths and Science.
Years 7 to year 9 span the period called key stage 3, culminating in the Maths, English and Science SATs tests.
By the age of 14, most children are expected to achieve level 5. These exams are often used to decide which GSCE set your child will be in.
General Certificate of Secondary Education, usually taken from ages 14 - 16 years.
Start in year 10, a two year GCSE course can be either modular (exams over two years) or linear (exams at the end). Two exam papers are taken at Foundation (achieving up to grade C) or Higher tiers (up to A*). Level 2 Key Skills = A*-C and Level 1 = D-G
AS Mathematics or Physics in year 12, has three modules usually examined in January or June. A2 Maths or Physics, a further three modules in year 13, completes the A-level course. AS and A2 are both 50% of the full A Level. The information provided is based on the OCR board, but will be applicable to other exam boards.
Hello David.
I would just like to thank you for your help, patience and support yesterday. I took the test today and PASSED, I can't believe it. I am truly grateful and will recommend you to others. Christine, July 2011 - coached at Toddington
David's calm teaching style put me at ease right away, he provided me with the necessary strategies to answer what I originally felt were complicated questions, in quick easy steps. With his teachings and practice at home, I passed the QTS test with considerable ease! David has not only helped me gain QTS, he has also instilled a level of mathematical confidence within me, which I never thought possible. Chantelle, June 2011 - coached at Toddington
You will be pleased to hear that I passed.
Thank you for developing such wonderful and useful material: so much better than all the support that I have had from the university.
Even at the tutorial you instilled in me the confidence that I could do it. Dionne, June 2011, 8th attempt - coached at Toddington
David, you are a legend, I passed yay!
Thank you for the resources and your tuition it really helped to simplify the process for me, and made me instantly much more confident.
I will be recommending that the Oxon Bucks GTP training course contact you about providing support for next years trainees.
I cannot thank you enough, I will now be a fully qualified teacher by Friday, not sure I could have done it without your support. Sarah, June 2011, 4th attempt- coached at Toddington
After 2 failed attempts, I finally passed my numeracy test! I found your website by chance and thought I'd give your method a try. The videos are easy to understand and I like the way you break down each question. Thank you so much for the time you have given to helping people achieve their pass. Kemi, May 2011 - A very delighted PGCE student!
I just had to send you a quick email and say 'thank you' for your section on passing the QTS Numeracy Test. Despite using the 'Passing the Numeracy Skills Test' book by Mark Patmore, I was still struggling - and panicking! I came across your website and downloaded both the Mental Arithmetic and On-screen questions PDF and PowerPoints and spent two days revising. Maths has never been my strong point but I took my test yesterday and passed first time.
I cannot recommend your materials more highly - thank you again. Laura, December 2010
I just wanted to write and say thank you for your brilliant revision guide for the QTS numeracy test.
I have never been confident with my maths skills and after attempting the practice tests on the TDA website, I thought I was a hopeless case.
Thanks to you I have just passed the test on my first attempt. I know that I would be facing many stressful resits if it were not for your guide.
Thank you so much!
Liz, trainee English teacher, London, December 2010
David,
Thanks so much for that QTS numeracy pack. I bought it last week and believe me, it made things much clearer for me to understand. I sat for the numeracy skill test yesterday and passed it, I couldn't believe it!. I am so much relieved.
Thanks once again for helping people like me achieve this. Nnenna, November 2010
Thanks very much David, I think your audio explanations are brilliant and have made a lot of sense. It helps that your voice is full of calm whereas inside I am full of panic! I've never got to grips with looking for the easy shortcut and method, so this has helped today. Michelle, Graduate Teacher, Greater Manchester Oct 26
Update Oct 27: I took the test today and passed first time! - Thanks again :-)
Your mental maths pack was very useful. I successfully completed the test. Thank you.
Shennade, October 2010
David,
Thanks for providing your QTS help pack. I had taken the test five times but after your pack I passed on my sixth. I realised that I'm not rubbish at Maths as I previously thought, I just didnt know the quick methods that your pack provides.
Thanks once again.
David H, October 2010
Thank you very much. I was able to pass my test thanks to your maths pack.
Yvonne, October 2010
I just wanted to say thanks for providing such excellent resources for the QTS Numeracy test. I wish I had known about them sooner.
As an experienced teacher (without QTS) I joined a teacher training course at the very end of the academic year, with just a term and my summer holidays to get through the work and tests.
I took my maths test today - just a week from the final deadline, and am so pleased I discovered your video download last night to prepare me for it! I felt so much more confident doing the mental maths section once I had seen it as a game of 'spot the shortcut', and your tips were invaluable. I'm pleased to say I passed too! Dawn, Teacher August 2010
Soon after I received the qts numeracy skills test package I passed the numeracy skills test first time! Thank you so much for your help Trainee Teacher October 2009
Great news...
I was successful in passing the numeracy qts skills test, I went through a torrid time but I focused on it and passed the test on 24th August '09.
Thank you for your tutoring, it was instrumental honing my strategy in passing this test.
Trainee Teacher passing QTS numeracy August 2009
Results have arrived today..............
You will pleased to know I passed! The mark was 77%.
Thanks for all the help - I'll be in touch again when I need to do the numeracy skills tests.
Trainee teacher after C grade maths equivalency test taken at Mathmadeesay August 2007
David is very patient and uses practical approaches to teaching, taking into account the learning style of his learners. Since having tuition sessions with David I have learnt to be much quicker at mental mathematics and have learnt new strategies for solving a range of mathematical problems quickly; rather than using the old fashion route taught at school many years ago! The learning environment supports 1-1 learning and David has a great rapport . I would recommend David as an excellent tutor who has supported me in regaining my self confidence in a subject I have found difficult, but not anymore!"
Trainee Primary Reception Class Teacher, Jan 2007
I passed my numeracy test! Thank you for your coaching
Trainee Primary Year 5 Teacher, Aug 2006
KS2 Maths