Maths Support Programme Wales
Promote Further Maths
The Maths Support Programme Wales is a Welsh Government funded project which was launched in 2010. The programme is managed by the Mathematics Department, Swansea University and works in collaboration with the universities of Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff, Wrexham Glyndŵr and the University of South Wales.
Students who enjoy mathematics and who plan to study AS/A level Mathematics in year 12 should have the opportunity to consider studying AS/A level Further Mathematics.
Similarly, students in year 12 who decide they want to study for a degree in a mathematically-rich subject area such as engineering, science, computing, finance/economics, and mathematics itself, should also have the opportunity of AS Further Mathematics in year 13.
Schools and colleges can help provide information and raise awareness about the benefits of studying A level Further Mathematics. The MSPW can support schools and colleges to promote the uptake of Further Mathematics.
Tuition and Student Support
“I believe studying further maths is extremely beneficial, not just for those aiming to study maths at university, but also for any STEM course. Through studying further maths I’ve been able to develop my critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Through the further maths support programme, I’ve had great support from my online tutors.”
Isabella Carter, FMSPW student 2018-2020
For full details of our tuition offers please click here or email Hayley Owen to discuss it further.
Free Teaching Resources
“The revision videos are excellent and will be used by our 6th formers this year.”
Teacher, Ysgol Bro Teifi.
The MSPW has made a large range of free resources which are available to teachers in state-funded schools and colleges. These include fully resourced Schemes of Work as well as Revision and Flipped classroom videos for A-level Mathematics and A-level Further Mathematics.
MSP Wales Integral Teacher Access
All schools and colleges in Wales are invited to register with MSPW to obtain free single user teacher access to Integral Further Maths resources Home | Integral (integralmaths.org). The resources available include applied A Level modules and all A Level Further Maths units.
Integral Student Access
Schools and colleges may also subscribe to online student access to Additional Maths, A-level Maths and A Level Further Maths resources. Annual subscriptions are available, for details of multiple student logins please visit Integral Resources – AS/A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics (mei.org.uk) . This includes the students’ record system for teachers, students’ online tasks and progress tracking system as well as teacher access to Pure A-level Mathematics resources. For more information please visit Integral.
Other Sources of Materials
The following websites contain excellent materials for introducing and developing mathematical problem-solving skills:
- AMSP
- United Kingdom Mathematics Trust
- The NRICH Mathematics Enrichment Project
- Liverpool Fun Maths Roadshow
- Underground Mathematics
- MEI/IET AS and A level mechanics practical videos
- STEM Learning collection
- Mathcentre collection
- RISPS
- Royal Institution
- Integral – The Integrating Mathematical Problem Solving (IMPS) project
Enrichment
“It not only allows my skills to be tested and corrected but it also allows me to keep up with learning new maths skills in order to apply what I have learnt during these sessions to my a level maths courses starting in September.”
Student from Monmouthshire subscribing to Mathematical Worlds enrichment programme during Lockdown.
The MSPW supports the enrichment of students’ experience of mathematics through organising events and providing stimulating resources. Formats used to provide enrichment opportunities include:
- Workshops and Hands-on Sessions
- Quizzes and Competitions
- Presentations and lectures
- Taster sessions for A level Mathematics & Further Mathematics and University Mathematics
- Student Conferences
Professional Learning
“Thanks for running this course. I think this is the best CPD I had during lockdown. The topic was completely new to me and the initial zoom session introduced it well to me.”
We are very pleased to offer a range of free training opportunities including one-day workshops, on-line sessions, topic/module specific sessions, in-school options as well as longer courses delivered at a nearby University. Our courses cover all units of A level Mathematics & Further Mathematics as well as tools such as Geogebra and Desmos and pedagogical sessions.
Research & Innovation
MSPW is committed to pedagogical and other educational research towards helping us to best support our aims. We have published papers in Journals and Conference Proceedings – some of these are linked to in ‘Published Research’. On-going work can be seen in Research . Any teachers interested in being involved in Action Research projects should contact us. Our expertise has been recognised by our being invited to contribute as ‘expert advisors’ to the Mathematics and Numeracy AoLE in the development of the Curriculum for Wales.
We have undertaken research into:
- Why students choose (or don’t choose) to study Further Mathematics
- Curriculum reform
- The transition to University
- Tools to support designing a connected curriculum
- Studying post-16 mathematics as a blended learning option
We have also undertaken action research, working with teachers in Wales into:
- The Flipped Classroom Approach
- Integrating Geogebra into Mathematics Education
- Visualising Statistics and the Cycle of Enquiry