On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people

In this paper we draw upon focus group data from a large study of learner trajectories through 14-19 mathematics education to think about the notion of relevance in the mathematics curriculum. Drawing on data from three socially distanced sites we explore how different emphases on what might be ter...

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Main Authors: Sealey, Paula, Noyes, Andrew
Format: Article
Published: Taylor and Francis Group 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27787/
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author Sealey, Paula
Noyes, Andrew
author_facet Sealey, Paula
Noyes, Andrew
author_sort Sealey, Paula
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description In this paper we draw upon focus group data from a large study of learner trajectories through 14-19 mathematics education to think about the notion of relevance in the mathematics curriculum. Drawing on data from three socially distanced sites we explore how different emphases on what might be termed practical, process and/or professional forms of relevance affect the experiences and aspirations of learners of mathematics. We consider whether an emphasis on practical relevance in schools serving relatively disadvantaged communities might aid the reproduction of students’ social position. This leads us to suggest that a fourth category of curriculum relevance – political relevance – is largely missing from classrooms.
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spelling nottingham-277872020-05-04T16:29:46Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27787/ On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people Sealey, Paula Noyes, Andrew In this paper we draw upon focus group data from a large study of learner trajectories through 14-19 mathematics education to think about the notion of relevance in the mathematics curriculum. Drawing on data from three socially distanced sites we explore how different emphases on what might be termed practical, process and/or professional forms of relevance affect the experiences and aspirations of learners of mathematics. We consider whether an emphasis on practical relevance in schools serving relatively disadvantaged communities might aid the reproduction of students’ social position. This leads us to suggest that a fourth category of curriculum relevance – political relevance – is largely missing from classrooms. Taylor and Francis Group 2010-09-08 Article PeerReviewed Sealey, Paula and Noyes, Andrew (2010) On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people. Curriculum Journal, 21 (3). pp. 239-254. ISSN 0958-5176 A level mathematics education mixed methods participation relevance http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09585176.2010.504573 doi:10.1080/09585176.2010.504573 doi:10.1080/09585176.2010.504573
spellingShingle A level
mathematics education
mixed methods
participation
relevance
Sealey, Paula
Noyes, Andrew
On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title_full On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title_fullStr On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title_full_unstemmed On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title_short On the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
title_sort on the relevance of the mathematics curriculum to young people
topic A level
mathematics education
mixed methods
participation
relevance
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27787/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27787/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27787/