It is special in its underpinning of other subjects in its profound nature and the fact that
Posted in General on 30. Sep, 2010
It is special in its underpinning of other subjects, in its profound nature, and the fact that endless studies show that if people didn’t get their maths at school, their employment and other chances are screwed It’s life-enhancing. It’s fundamental to science and engineering and economic well-being.”What shocked Professor Smith – and what shocked Clarke too – was that no one was in charge of maths at the DfES. If there had been a maths tsar at the department when the sixth-form exam reform was introduced, we would not have had the new AS-level maths course that one-third of students failed, he thinks. “There has been a prevailing philosophy in the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) that has not put a lot of focus on subject-specific issues,” he says “The brutal fact is that mathematics is different.
He is, in the words of one of Queen Mary’s women professors, a bit of a hunk. His office is covered in modern art, John Hoyland and Terry Frost. He is very much the metropolitan vice-chancellor.It goes without saying that he is a clever chap. After Teignmouth grammar school in Devon, where he did pure maths, applied maths, further maths and physics (as well as Russian), he attended the University of Cambridge. He was well-taught and believes that everyone should receive exciting and rigorous maths teaching.
That’s why he is pleased that Clarke has accepted another of his recommendations – the appointment of a maths tsar. Tall, with long, Sixties-style hair and trendy dark shirts, he does not conform to the public stereotype of the anoraked maths professor. “Golden hellos” for maths teacher trainees are being increased by £1,000 (up from £4,000). So are training bursaries (up from £6,000), and advanced-skills maths teachers will have the cap on their salaries lifted “It’s a very good start,” says Professor Smith “These are big percentages.
If you’re talking in terms of the image and profile, when you get press headlines that teachers can earn up to £60,000, you are sort of beginning to win.”It is not often that academics, or even principals or vice-chancellors, are able to influence public policy in this way. And it is testament to Professor Smith’s savvy that he has succeeded. The man in charge of Queen Mary understands the importance of using the press. He ensured that, when his hard-hitting report on maths was published earlier this year, it hit the headlines. He cultivated journalists assiduously beforehand, fanning their curiosity, giving out morsels of information and generally being genial to those who went to see him – but holding back the big financial incentive story until the last minute.This availability has not traditionally been the way of vice-chancellors, but Professor Smith is one of a new breed.