Education News

I have seen a lot of higher maths books in my time, but this one really does stand out.

What makes this book so special?

First the title sets out its objective.  You don’t write a book called The Ultimate Revision for GCSE Higher Mathematics unless you think you are onto something serious!

And the reason the author can do this is that this is the only book (also avaialble on CD) that supplies the FULL SOLUTIONS of all the exercises set.

Of course, all Mathematics teachers can supply these solutions themselves, but think of the time required to do this task in a proper typesetting format.

There are 45 topics covering the GCSE syllabus of the main Examining boards such as Edexcel, AQA, OCR, there are mixed questions, 10 one hour test papers and two full length calculator and non calculator papers.

The book and CD each do exactly the same thing, and teachers can purchase the book for their personal use, if they purchase the book and the CD, they can print as many copies as they wish, and the book costs £19.95 and £25 for the CD or they can purchase at least 25 CDs at £3/CD, for more copies £2/CD and they can give them to pupils/students for more practice.

An inspection copy is offered by the publisher – who then offers to give it to the teacher if 12 copies are purchased.  They also get a 35% discount.  Postage and packing are free.

Here’s the technical data…

Author: Anthony Nicolaides
Price: £19.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-872684-79-6

The book covers more than 1200 Exercises with the Full Solutions.  There are 45 topics, the Exercises start on a new page and so do the Full Solutions, so you can print as many copies as you wish.   The book covers number, algebra, shape and space and data handling.  There is a chapter of mixed questions and a two hour specimen papers (Non calculator and calculator), plus 10 test papers of one hour duration.
The book gives the FULL SOLUTIONS of all the exercises.

Private Academic & Scientific Studies Ltd
11, Baring Road London SE 12 0JP
Website: www.passpublications.co.uk

email: sales@passpublications.co.uk

Telephone: 020 8857 4752 Facsimile: 020 8857 4752

Reports are coming in that a number of local authorities have started to receive a letter from the Dept for Children Schools and Families on the subject of unspent school spending.

In essence the letters remind local authority education finance directors of the agreement  introduced two years ago which states that schools must spend the vast majority of their budget each year, by the end of the financial year.   This agreement followed pressure from the National Union of Teachers on the subject.

The letter further suggests that the government will expect local authorities to take firm and clear action to recover all unspent money immediately after the end of the financial year next April.

Several local papers have started picking up on these letters.  Here is what the newspaper in Derbyshire said earlier this week…

“Until now, the council has been happy to allow surpluses to remain where schools have a plausible reason, such as building repairs or projects overlapping from one financial year to another.

“Head teachers have only been challenged if more than 8% of a primary school budget and 5% of a secondary school budget remains at the end of the financial year.

“But pressure from the Government, which has said it will take action if national totals have not fallen by 2011, has prompted the city council to put forward plans to claw back the cash at the end of this financial year.”  (This is Derbyshire, 23 November).

Our understanding is that the new letter removes the 2011 timeline and insists that the money left over, beyond the 5% and 8% limit, must be returned in April 2010 – not one year later as originally (informally) planned.

It also implies that the old system of offering a simple explanation for money held over (“we’re planning to replace the boiler next autumn”) are no longer going to be accepted at face value.

We’re looking into this and hope to have more information soon.  If you have any information on this topic please do write to II@schoolsare.us