A new study led by academics at the University of Nottingham has shown that University Maths Schools are having a transformative impact on the lives of young people across England by boosting attainment and progression and significantly widening participation in mathematics and STEM.
The independent evaluation by researchers in the university's Observatory for Mathematical Education (OME) aimed to assess whether student outcomes at Maths Schools - specialist state-funded sixth-forms which focus on mathematics and related STEM subjects - are significantly higher than in non-specialist sixth-forms by comparing A level grades achieved by students and their progression to university courses.
University Maths Schools were introduced under the coalition Conservative-Liberal Democrat government of 2010-2015 and each receive an additional £350,000 per year from the Department of Education on top of their post-16 funding allocation. This extra funding is to provide a greater focus on wider mathematical problem solving to help prepare students for university mathematics degrees and to create a learning community to support top-performing mathematics students.
They also aim to tackle disadvantage and under-representation through outreach and by influencing mathematics teaching in pre- and post-16 settings. Two further Maths Schools in Nottingham and Durham are planned to open in the future, but the provision of free schools is being reviewed by the current Labour government.
The research by the OME, which uses the National Pupil Database from the Department for Education and data on university participation and attainment supplied by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, aimed to establish if Maths Schools are fulfilling their intended function.
Key findings from the report include:
- In Maths Schools, female students, those from under-represented ethnic groups, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds all progress at higher rates to mathematically intensive STEM degrees than comparable peers elsewhere.
- Maths School students are more diverse than those studying A-level Further Mathematics in other settings, in terms of both gender and socio-economic background.
- Students are more likely to achieve the highest grades in A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, with exceptional value-added compared to their peers.
- Maths Schools keep more students in the mathematics 'pipeline', with significantly higher progression to mathematical sciences and STEM degrees.
- Students at Maths Schools progress to the UK's most selective STEM universities, including Oxbridge, at significantly higher rates than their matched peers.
We are delighted to publish this report which gives the most accurate insights to date into the positive outcomes experienced by Maths School pupils.
Professor Brignell added: "Compared to equivalent pupils in other schools and colleges, our research shows students at Maths Schools are more likely to achieve top A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics grades and, subsequently, are more likely to enrol on mathematically intensive degrees at university.
"Our future research will consider the wider impact of Maths Schools through their outreach and enrichment activities with 11-16 pupils across their respective regions. Government data shows the A level Mathematics participation rate is 27% in the North East - the lowest in the country - and 30% in the East Midlands, compared to 33% for England, but the Department for Education has yet to decide on whether Maths Schools can open in these two remaining regions."
Dan Abramson, CEO of the University Maths Schools Network, said: "Compared with their matched peers, students at Maths Schools achieve higher A Level grades and progress to more selective universities, with the most pronounced benefits for girls and those from low-income backgrounds. University Maths Schools give students with a spark for maths the chance to thrive, whatever their background. Ten years on from their establishment, this study proves that the schools are fulfilling their mission to be engines of social mobility and nurture a new generation of mathematical scientists."
In 2023, the University of Nottingham announced a partnership with the East Midlands Education Trust with the intention of launching the University of Nottingham Maths School to encourage more students from underrepresented backgrounds to study maths-based STEM subjects and increasing diversity within STEM.
The school would educate around 200 students, building on the existing successful models of maths schools now established around the UK and would run an outreach and Continuing Professional Development scheme for other schools and colleges in the East Midlands region to promote teaching excellence, support a stronger maths ecosystem, enhance maths teaching and support teaching development in the area.
The launch has been paused due to the current government review.
It is excellent to see the evidence that the Maths Schools are making such a significant impact on maths education and attainment, which is bringing greater equity and opportunity to young people.
She added: "We hope that the Government Review will be progressed rapidly to enable the Nottingham Maths school to open so that we can address the stark regional differences in Maths attainment and therefore opportunity in the East Midlands."
Lisa Walton, Interim Chief Executive of the East Midlands Education Trust said: "The East Midlands Education Trust is delighted to be working in partnership with The University of Nottingham during the pre-opening phase of the 16-19 Maths School. Like the University, we are passionate about enriching educational opportunities available to all young people in the East Midlands and as such, the 16-19 Maths school meets a critical need in the locality: in 2025, the East Midlands was the lowest performing region in England for achievement at A-Level with 73.9% of grades awarded at A*-C compared to the national average of 77.7%. Indeed, in London, where there are already two well-established and successful16-19 Maths schools, was the highest performing region at 79.5% A*-C. The East Midlands remains one of the only two regions in England without a 16-19 Maths school which we see as a significant disadvantage for our young people, particularly those from minority groups who are currently under-represented in A Level uptake for Mathematics and Further Mathematics."
The full report, Evaluation of Pupil Attainment and Progression in Maths Schools, can be viewed at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/observatory/documents/reports/pupil-attainment-progression-mathsschools.pdf
