Abstract
Maths attainment is essential for a wide range of outcomes relating to further education, careers, health and the wider economy. Research suggests a significant proportion of adults and adolescents are underachieving in maths within the UK, making this a key area for research. This study investigates the role of children's perceptions of the school climate (children's affect towards school and student–teacher relationships), their attitudes towards maths and teacher characteristics as predictors of maths attainment trajectories, taking the transition from primary to secondary education into consideration. Two growth models were fit using secondary data analysis of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The first model, which looked at predictors of maths attainment in primary education, found significant associations only between positive maths attitudes and increased maths attainment. The second model, which looked at predictors of maths attainment in secondary education, found significant associations between increased maths attainment and positive maths attitudes, decreased school belonging, positive student–teacher relationships and increased teacher fairness. The findings suggest that the secondary education school environment is particularly important for maths attainment.
Highlights
Aspects of numerical and mathematical skills are used by adults every day
When looking at the findings for the secondary education model, it appears that school-related factors in secondary education have a greater effect on maths attainment trajectories, where more positive student–teacher relationships, greater perceived maths teacher fairness and lower school-belonging were significantly associated with increased attainment
Of all the variables analysed here, this study found that the most important school-related predictor of maths attainment trajectories in primary and secondary education was children’s maths attitudes
Summary
Aspects of numerical and mathematical skills are used by adults every day. Whether this is as employees giving the correct change or when using spreadsheets, as consumers when royalsocietypublishing.org/journal/rsos R. The consequences of poor numeracy and low maths attainment are far-reaching and long-lasting. Low maths attainment limits educational and career opportunities, and is linked to a higher rate of unemployment and low socioeconomic status (SES), as well as increased health issues, and a higher likelihood of homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system [2,3,4,5,6]. Poor numeracy is reported to cost around 20.2 billion per year to the UK economy alone, not including the potential costs associated with the health sector and criminal justice system [7]
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