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The school that topped the Times newspaper\u2019s\u00a0A-Level rankings<\/a>\u00a0in 2024 only permits students to sit A-levels in\u00a0three subjects<\/a>: maths, further maths and physics. At King\u2019s College London Mathematics School, 76.2% of students got an A* \u2013 and 99.5% of students achieved between A*-B.<\/p>\n King\u2019s Maths School is a specialist mathematics school: a type of\u00a0free school<\/a>\u00a0established in partnership with a leading university for students aged between 16-19. They offer a narrow range of predominately Stem subjects \u2013 science, technology, engineering and mathematics.<\/p>\n In addition to A-levels, the schools specialise in providing university level content and teaching to bridge the gap between secondary school and higher education. Students complete research projects in STEM fields, produce academic reports and are offered science modules delivered in university-style lectures.<\/p>\n There are currently\u00a0eight maths schools<\/a>\u00a0in England, with another\u00a0two schools<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0open in 2025<\/a>\u00a0and a further school\u00a0in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n But very little research \u2013 only\u00a0one study<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 has been carried out on how they operate, what they teach and their students\u2019 experiences. My ongoing PhD research focuses on identifying the similarities and differences between the schools, as well as recording the experiences of students as they progress from school to university.<\/p>\n The creation of specialist maths schools was announced under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government\u00a0in 2011<\/a>. The policy was devised\u00a0by Dominic Cummings<\/a>, the then special advisor to the education secretary at the time Michael Gove. It was inspired by dedicated\u00a0maths schools in Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Maths schools must be sponsored by a local university. The Conservative government\u2019s policy was that the university should be a\u00a0\u201chighly selective university\u201d<\/a>, where entry requirements for a full time maths degree are roughly equivalent to AAB at A-Level.<\/p>\n The universities, as well as sponsoring the schools, advise on the research projects, extra-currciular modules and provide resources to the schools. King\u2019s College London and the University of Exeter opened maths schools in 2014, with others following.<\/p>\n Maths schools are state funded and selective. Most maths schools require a minimum of grade 8 (formally grade A) in GCSE maths and a grade 8 in the subjects they want to study at A-Level, plus a minimum of grade 5 in English and any other subjects they studied at GCSE. This may be in addition to references from the school, an entry exam and an interview.<\/p>\n The schools\u2019 admissions policies give preference to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. At King\u2019s Maths School, 11% of pupils are\u00a0eligible for free school meals<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 well below the national average of over 20%. The school does point out, though, that nationally only 3.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals study further maths. According to 2022-23 data, King\u2019s Maths School and Exeter University Mathematics School admit more pupils who receive support for special educational needs\u00a0than the national average<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Delighted to top The Times’ league table for A-level results.<\/p>\n Congratulations to our students and staff for their hard work in making this possible. #ALevelResults<\/a> #alevelresultsday2024<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZTf2RkGYo5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 King’s Maths School (@kingsmathschool) August 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nRussian inspiration<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Going to maths school<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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