Big well done and thank you to Ed Southall and team for bringing BCME back. An amazing gathering of mathematics educators.
David Thomas
@dmthomas90
CEO of @AxiomMaths, raising the next generation of mathematicians. OBE for services to education. Former headteacher and DfE advisor.
1.4K Following 5K Followers 7.5K Posts
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@GNRailUK I genuinely cannot remember when my morning train last ran on time. Is there some underlying problem going on? Do you have a sense of when it will be fixed? I’m asking - not ranting!
It’s really hard to achieve parity of esteem if we justify vocational education as an alternative option for those who aren’t doing well academically.
Vocational education should be justified on its own merits. It should compete with academic for children who could do either.
Vocational education should be justified on its own merits. It should compete with academic for children who could do either.
We've all heard someone say 'school wasn't really for me’.View quoted post on X
And we should think about why that is. Our system is set up to reward young people who thrive in academic subjects and exams, but what about those who learn best by getting stuck in and doing things?
Too often they're left behind.
So we’re introducing new vocational GCSEs - proper, nationally recognised qualifications giving young people practical, hands-on learning that they can study alongside Maths, English and Science.
And we’re creating 200,000 more work experience opportunities, so every teenager gets the chance to experience the world of work before they leave school.
A one-size fits all approach simply doesn't work - I want to build an education system that values both academic and technical paths and gives all young people hope that their future will be brighter, whether it starts at university or not.
The maths nerd in me is very excited about today’s breakthroughs. The teacher in me wants to tell these people to behave. This is not how you win the public’s trust.
When Bell Labs were smashing through science did it feel to the academic community like it does with maths and the big labs now?