Students need to apply numerical and statistical methods to real-world contexts, says Rita Gardner

A recent blog post on students’ maths skills rightly highlighted the challenges that face many students as they transition from school into a broad range of degrees.

Equipping students with the skills and confidence to apply mathematical knowledge in their university studies, and also in their subsequent careers, is important and the new post-16 core maths courses will help support this. However, “data rich” subjects such as geography also play a key role in helping to enhance pupils’ skills and confidence as they move from school into university.