RSSeNEWS to be determined...

The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) has a number of items of interest in its news section of its website. Amongst these is its statement that there is a continuing need for an Advanced Extension Award (AEA), or similar, in Mathematics, providing assessment beyond A level. The existence of the current AEA is only guaranteed until 2013.

ACME has also published its response to Ofqual’s consultation, ‘Regulating for confidence in standards’, which highlights the three issues of transparency, diversity amongst subjects and efficiency of qualifications markets. The RSS has written to Ofqual and expressed its ‘strong agreement’ with ACME’s views, which are also endorsed by the Joint Mathematical Council. The Society has particular concern over the diversity issue – different subjects really are different and a single strictly-enforced regulatory regime would be damaging.

Also published are some notes on structural issues facing the two-tier model for GCSE Mathematics. ACME states that problems with the current model include that a Grade C can be achieved on both the foundation and higher tiers, with Grade C on the higher tier being obtained through a very low percentage mark. ACME is calling for a review of the current two-tier model.