Mathematical fiddle “things”

Ever since I watched the above clip from Vi Hart I’ve been fascinated with flexagons and so one night this week I made my very own trihexaflexagon. It was after I’d marked a test for one of my classes and even though we’ve spent lessons and lessons on circles there were still some students that … Read more

GCSE Maths: Preparing for your exam

For the last couple of years Graham (Cumming .. of course!) has been sending out some additional reminders for both students and teachers a few weeks before the exams. This year has been no different and he has kindly given me permission to share on here too (to which I’ve added a little extra that you … Read more

Countdown “T minus 25”

I’ve joked from the very introduction of the new GCSE that I wanted to sit the exam with the year 11 group that would be sitting it for the very first time … well .. I’ve only gone and flipping entered! The idea is not to prove that I can get a 9 (but shouldn’t … Read more

GCSE 9-1 New content – Product rule for counting

I’ve been thinking about some of the new content in the GCSE and wanted to delve a bit deeper into some of the topics – not only to make sure that my understanding of the “learning objectives” are correct but if I’m honest I also think I have a hang up about subject knowledge, because … Read more

Dual entry ?

Back in December 2015 the DFE published a document ->  GCSE_Early_Entry_Guidance that clarified some rules about “early entry” – you may remember when new early entry rules for key stage 4 qualifications were announced on September 29 2013 (I remember it well!) that only a pupil’s first entry to a key stage 4 qualification would counts towards their school’s … Read more

Thinking

Whether or not you agree with the 4/5 change that was announced last week (some people do! read the comments at the end of my blog post -> here ), the fact is that Nicky Morgan (and yes I know she’s gone!) together with Nick Clegg (him too!!) pledged as part of their commitment to teacher workload that … Read more

Seriously

Gobsmacked. That is the only word I can use to describe the announcement today that Justine Greening made via a letter to the Education Select Committee. (BTW If any of the committee are reading this I suggest you clear the diary in Autumn because I suspect you will be opening an enquiry into this Summers GCSE … Read more

Mel’s digging her hat out again!

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED … THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT ENTERED I’ve only gone and convinced Mel it’s about time to dig out her hat again and offer some free tickets to the JustMaths Conference in June. Back in the Summer term when we were about to launch the ‘Super 60’ we wanted to celebrate the … Read more

Common Questions – New 9-1 GCSE

I’m just gonna say it … I think I need to get a life! I’ve been doing some work following the letter I’ve had from Ofqual in response to my own letter to them where I raised the matter of how comparability across tiers was being ensured. You can see from the below extract Ofqual … Read more

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