New A-Level Maths to be delayed by a year

The introduction of new maths AS and A-Levels will be delayed by a year until September 2017, the government says.

The delay has come about due to fears students would struggle to bridge the gap between the current GCSE and new A-Levels. Nick Gibb the School Minister said the delay would give students the benefit of having studied the new GCSE maths syllabus which starts next year.

This will be welcome news to teachers, who have argued against the rushed implementation of the new A-Level Curriculum all along. The head of the teachers’ union ASCL said the decision was logical but should have been made “in the first instance”.

Exams regulator Ofqual and A-Level Content Advisory Board (Alcab), advised that the current GCSE maths and A-Level maths would not line up in terms of content.

National Association of Head Teachers’ general secretary Russell Hobby particularly welcomed this aspect of the deferment.

“It takes a long time for schools to prepare for a new exam properly. This includes changes to teaching programmes, resources and even staffing.” Said Mr Hobby

The new A-Level Maths Curriculum contain substantial changes in emphasis and content, with a  much bigger focus on making sure students embrace fluency, reasoning and mathematical problem-solving.

With teachers and students already having to adapt to a new maths Curriculum from Years 7 to 11 in Secondary schools, this will help relieve some of the pressure on teachers and allow them time to adapt.