Chief Welsh exam officer calls for Maths GCSEs to be started earlier

Gareth Pierce, chief of the Welsh exam board said schools would need sufficient time to cover all the work. From September 2015 most children will study for two maths GCSEs rather than the one currently offered in schools.

Some schools already study for GCSE courses in years 8 and 9 but Mr Pierce told BBC Wales that the new double maths qualification should be a three-year course.

He said, "Without a solution of that kind there is a question of how much workload will be on pupils following the two GCSEs.”

"Although there is quite an overlap in content, the assessment styles are a bit different and there is some different content in the GCSE mathematics compared to the numeracy.”

"So I'm sure schools will be thinking very carefully about ensuring there is sufficient time to cover all of that work."

The Welsh government doesn't agree and says there will be no extra time added. 

From next year a numeracy course will assess what maths skills learners need in their everyday lives in the world of work and in other general curriculum areas.

A second mathematics qualification will extend to aspects needed for progression to scientific, technical or further mathematical study.

The new qualifications are an attempt by the Welsh government to raise standards and improve performances in maths, which is the weakest of the core GCSE subjects.

At 10ticks we have been mapping our maths resources to the new GCSE framework, and we will be adding work into year 8 and 9 to make sure teachers have enough time to cover everything in time for GCSE.