Quotes from Professional Associations and Institutes:

CBI

“We welcome the increased numbers of young people studying maths at AS and A level - and encourage them to go on to study maths and mathematics-related degrees. However, we need to increase still further the numbers studying maths and further maths in order to meet the skills challenges ahead. Demand for jobs with Science, Engineering and Technology skills is set to grow by 2.4 million by 2014 – and all these jobs require maths skills. Highly numerate disciplines are in great demand from employers – young people with maths qualifications will find that their degrees can open doors to exciting and rewarding careers.”

Engineering Council UK

“EC^UK strongly supports the work of the Further Mathematics Network. By offering increased opportunities to students to take Further Maths at AS and A2 levels, it will help make them better prepared to enter degree courses in engineering. Furthermore by offering high quality professional development for teachers it will enhance the totality of learning and teaching in Mathematics.”

Engineering Professors’ Council

“Mathematics is one of the essential tools of the engineer in the 21st Century. The EPC is thus committed to ensuring that the study of mathematics is available to all those students able to benefit. We have witnessed with growing concern the gradual restriction in the range of applicable mathematics covered in the A and AS level syllabus in recent years, leading to a worrying lack of mathematical fluency among many entrants to engineering degree courses. The EPC applauds the work the Further Mathematics Network has carried out todate in supporting mathematics teachers, and endorses the current drive to extend the coverage of mathematics.”

Engineering and Technology Board

“When students begin an engineering course with a further maths qualification, whether at A-level or AS, we find they are significantly better prepared to manage their studies.”

Government Chief Adviser for Mathematics

“Further Mathematics had been in a state of serious decline until the Department funded a nationwide network of Further Mathematics Centres. The Further Mathematics Network can justifiably claim to have had a significant impact, not only on entries to the subject, Further Mathematics, but also on participation in mathematics more generally. What is the key to the Network’s success? There will of course be no simple answer since outcomes of any process are always due to many interacting influences but I identify a few: a real need for the intervention that was supported by mathematics teachers and the mathematics community as well as Government, expert and committed leadership and coordinators, and an ability to think 'out of the box' in the face of the problem of decline: that is not to take the decline as inevitable but rather proactively to find a solution by coming up with a judicious mix of high quality materials, distance learning and face-to-face mentoring.

I hope that the change in fortune of Further Mathematics marks a new era for the country in which more and more people continue to engage with and to enjoy our subject.”

Institute of Mathematics and its Applications

“AS and A Level Further Mathematics are valuable qualifications which give added insight into how mathematics develops and why it is useful. The Further Mathematics Network is an important initiative which will ensure that all learners in England have the opportunity to take the subject; the IMA supports it fully.”

Institute of Physics

“Physics and mathematics are essential requirements for entry to a physics degree. Good supplementary subjects include another science, such as chemistry or geology, and further mathematics, either to AS or A-level. Further mathematics is particularly useful preparation for courses in theoretical and/or mathematical physics, which have a more sophisticated mathematical content.”

The Mathematical Association

“The Mathematical Association strongly supports the work of the Further Mathematics Network. It is immensely important to give all students who take mathematics at A level the opportunity to do an AS or A level in Further Mathematics and to help it be seen as both a valuable additional qualification and an opportunity to extend their mathematical background. We welcome also the way in which the project will raise the profile of the subject generally throughout the country and actively encourage a wider range of students to enjoy and extend their studies in mathematics.”

The Met Office

“The Met Office is pleased to support the work of the Further Mathematics Network. Young people with highly developed skills in mathematics are vital to the work of the Met Office, and to the country as a whole, helping us to forecast the weather and work to understand climate change. The Further Mathematics Network’s work in promoting mathematics to young people and supporting their studies is making a vital contribution to increasing the pool of appropriately qualified young people. We are delighted to be able to support the Further Mathematics Network locally in Devon, where our national office is based, and to support its national mission to improve opportunities for young people in mathematics.”

The Royal Statistical Society

“The Royal Statistical Society welcomes the establishment of the Further Mathematics Network. It is wonderful that everyone studying advanced-level mathematics should now have access to Further Mathematics topics. The Society is particularly pleased that it gives opportunities to engage in further study of statistics and other applied mathematics topics; this is especially important now that the possibilities of doing so within A level Mathematics are very limited.”

SEMTA

“Mathematics underpins science, engineering and manufacturing technologies and it is vital for industry that there is an increased supply of young people with highly developed mathematics skills. SEMTA members are delighted at the success of the Further Mathematics Network in extending opportunities for young people to gain AS/A level Further Mathematics qualifications. Studying Further Mathematics develops skills that are highly valued by employers and helps students to succeed on degree courses in the areas of sciences, engineering, technology and mathematics.”

Quotes from Examinations Awarding Bodies:

AQA

“The study of Further Mathematics brings a greater breadth and depth to a student’s mathematical experience, leads to highly regarded qualifications and positively benefits further study beyond A level. AQA wishes to actively promote the study of Further Mathematics and fully supports the work of the Further Mathematics Network in achieving this aim.”

Edexcel

“Edexcel is fully committed to widening participation and so welcomes and fully supports the work of the Further Mathematics Network in promoting Further Mathematics and making it available to more learners. ”

OCR

“OCR welcomes, and fully supports, the work of the Further Mathematics Network in promoting Further Mathematics.”