What they did at Kingsbridge Community College last year

Last year Sandra Westlake and her colleague, Jackie Walker, used an FSMQ for the first time with lower ability Year 11 students. In previous years they had found that such students had gained very little from a foundation level GCSE course – the students were simply repeating work they had already done, hadn't progressed very well and were only able to achieve the lowest grades of GCSE at the end of their two year struggle. Both teachers and students were very disillusioned and fed up with the whole process.

Determined to try a different approach, Sandra spent a lot of time persuading parents and her head to allow her to:

• enter low ability students for GCSE Foundation a year early
  i.e. at the end of Year 10

• study the Foundation level FSMQ 'Managing money' in Year 11.

The students sat their GCSE in June 2006 and results were similar to those that similar groups had achieved after an extra year of study in previous years. Having received their results, the students were then given the option of trying GCSE again at the intermediate level or taking the Managing money FSMQ.

Those students who chose Managing Money were much happier with the approach used. As well as studying useful topics, they also had guest speakers to explain how they work with money. The use of computers was also popular with students – they could see the ability to use spreadsheets as a skill that could well be useful to them in life after school.

Some of the things the students said during the FSMQ course:

Compared to last years GCSE course I have found the Managing Course interesting and easy.

The behaviour in the class is much better so we talk and focus more as a class.

For the past years of having maths I have found it difficult for understanding but now I have full understanding and intend on doing well in maths.

Not sure whether better or worse than last year because I can't remember what I did.

I get distracted on the laptops.

I understand what is going on more.

I think I'll use the maths more when I leave.

Using the laptops is not always good because I get distracted on the internet.

I think that Managing Money is really good course because I understand it better and I'm probably going to use the skills I learn't when I leave school.

What they are doing at Kingsbridge Community College this year
This year another Year 11 group is following in the footsteps of last year’s group by doing 'Managing Money' in Year 11 after completing Foundation GCSE at the end of Year 10.

In addition, the lowest Year 10 group will be doing 'Working in 2 and 3 dimensions' before going on to 'Managing Money' in Year 11.