Making maths add up

A team at Sheffield Hallam University has started a three year study to review how universities across the country teach mathematics subjects with the aim of making the mathematics curriculum more flexible and attractive.

The More Mathematics Graduates Project was launched earlier this year with the help of £3.3m of government funding to help solve the tricky problem of the fall in the number of students taking up the subject at university.

Between now and 2010, the researchers will look at what the courses contain, how students are assessed and how motivational the courses are.

'The aim of the project is to improve the attainment of mathematics at GCSE, AS and A levels and to encourage and increase the number of students progressing into studying higher education mathematics or mathematical sciences,' said Dr Neil Challis from the Mathematics team.