The Problem with Mathematics and Low Sets in Secondary Schools
The set system in school is aimed to teach student in one group who are at the same level as their classmates, and for some subjects it can work, yet that’s not usually the case for mathematics.
Mathematics is a subject that doesn’t usually rank as an individual favourite, and it can be seen by many students as the least enjoyable subject, and the set system could be something to do with that. Students who are in low sets are often in the ‘foundation’ category. This means that they cannot achieve A’s or B’s because their paper does not allow them to do so, and this shouldn’t be the case.
Maths is often broken up into stages and if you don’t understand two or three stages then you can’t progress, and it’s quite often a case of helping a student get to the next level, they may then feel much more comfortable in more areas of mathematics, and just because they’re in a low set they shouldn’t necessarily be restricted from earning high grades.
