Because Miles had his Further Pure Mathematics exam this afternoon I did not get much work done myself. However, he did a good mock exam in the morning and was very happy to go into the exam room in the afternoon. It was quite funny because he was the only person doing this particular exam. It is very strange how the UK is educating its kids at the moment. More young people in the sixth form are doing maths A-level but a major problem is it is a harder examination than all of the others except physics. Further mathematics in my view is the hardest. So, in order for the bright young things to have a good chance of getting an A in mathematics Queen Elizabeth sixth form College in Darlington makes sure that they do the easier modules. Miles however has gone down what the examination board calls the "traditional route" but we call it "the hairy chested route " which is to do the modules core 1 to four and then do mechanics one and 2 and then for the Further Mathematics do Further Pure modules one to three and then do the two remaining mechanics modules mechanics three and four. I checked around several independent schools in the UK and not one of them does mechanics three or four. In my view this is because they are too hard therefore they would lower the probability of the bright young things getting into the the top universities. Nice to know that the engineers putting the planes together and bridges and the fund managers working in the city are just not as numerate as they should be. I know this sounds a bit wayward and harsh but we seem to have turned education into a points game instead of something where young people are challenged and really do learn the full length and breadth of the subject that they are doing. I believe that this is particularly important in mathematics. Society at the moment completely disagrees with me. Who is right? Who is wrong?

I am very proud of my son for doing the hardest route to getting his two A-levels.