King’s College to open specialist sixth form for maths prodigies

 
Anna Davis @_annadavis14 December 2012

A London university will set up the first specialist sixth-form school for maths prodigies, it announced today.

King’s College revealed plans to open the school in Waterloo to ensure there are enough maths and physics experts for the future The university wants to attract bright children who are exceptionally gifted in the subjects but are not getting good enough teaching to enable them to flourish and apply to top universities.

King’s has already been given a government grant to develop the school, which is planned to open in September 2014.

Professor Alison Wolf from King’s College, who also wrote the Government’s vocational education review, said: “We know that of all the school subjects maths is the one where there is a really serious labour market shortage. Maths is the one A-level that adds to your earnings.

“It is almost impossible to find young British mathematicians to teach in universities. They all get snapped up by the City and industry.

“There is a thin pipeline because we have a limited number of people coming from British schools.”

Children at independent schools do significantly better in maths than those in state schools, she said, adding: “Then it all goes round in a circle. The pupils from independent schools then get better jobs.”

The new school, which will take up to 200 students, will run outreach classes for pupils in neighbouring schools who need extra maths coaching. Post-graduate students from King’s will be tutors and mentors for the sixth form pupils.

Professor Wolf said: “There are some really talented young mathematicians who are not getting the inspiring teaching they need. They need to be with other young mathematicians so they can learn from each other.

“The school will be able to attract really talented teachers who want to work with these children.”

Pupils at the school will all take three A-levels in maths, further maths and physics. They will have lessons in English, music, art, sport and IT but will not take A-levels in them.

Professor Wolf said: “Young people pile up the A-levels, but if you apply to Russell group universities they only look at three. It’s all about doing really well in two or three subjects that are related.”

Today’s announcement comes after a study revealed that a quarter of adults in London have maths skills below those of nine-year-olds.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “This is an excellent example of a world-class higher education institution playing an active role in preparing gifted young people for the rigours of university study.”

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