Values and variables: Mathematics education in high-performing countries

Researchers: Professor Jeremy Hodgen | Professor Mike Askew ...

Project overview


In 2008 the Nuffield Foundation commissioned a team from King’s College, London, to conduct a review of research literature on the features of mathematics education in those countries which perform well on international tests of mathematics attainment.

Main findings
  • England’s performance in international rankings improved between 2003 and 2007. However, this does not necessarily mean an improvement in all areas of maths education. Year 9 performance in algebra is still below the international average.
  • Use of textbooks for teaching maths in English schools is relatively low. English textbooks use routine examples and are less mathematically coherent than those used in other countries.
  • Mathematics education outside school ‘ shadow education ‘ can contribute to high standards, but can also have an adverse effect on pupils’ wider social development.
  • There is no link between achievement and enjoyment in maths education. Pupils in countries that perform well in international surveys do not necessarily enjoy maths more than those from countries which perform less well.
  • Pupils from high-performing countries often have low confidence in maths.
  • Countries that perform well in maths have not reduced the difference in attainment between pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds.
  • There is no evidence that pupils who participate in pre-school mathematics learning are likely to perform better at maths than those who don’t.
  • Differences in maths performance between countries do not necessarily reflect differences in standards of teaching. The degree to which the questions used in international surveys match the curriculum content of a particular country is a more significant factor than the standard of teaching.

Latest on this project


Team


  • Professor Jeremy Hodgen
    King's College London
  • Professor Mike Askew
    King's College London
  • Sarmin Hossain
    King's College London
  • Nicola Bretscher
    King's College London

  • Director, Education
    Nuffield Foundation

Explore our projects

New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 - 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
Little girls in primary school uniform

Education | 2024 - 2026

Developing a classroom intervention to improve conversation skills

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Pupil school mobility: types, pathways and implications for education

View project
Teacher with secondary pupils
New

Education | 2024 - 2028

Teaching improvement through data and evaluation (TIDE)

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Artificial intelligence and education

View project
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Artificial intelligence and education

View project
Two little boys and a little girl, all wearing primary school uniform, work together to solve a puzzle in their classroom.
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

What has ‘Free School Meals’ measured and what are the implications?

View project
Father and daughter having fun at home
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

Optimisation and feasibility of Triple P parenting programme for remote delivery

View project
Early years professionals playing with children
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Understanding the take-up of early education entitlements

View project
Primary school children using a microscope during a lesson outside at school
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Purposeful and effective practical work in primary school science

View project
Male and female apprentices looking at car engine
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2025

Work or study? Gender and the transition from school to work

View project
Two teenage male pupils study a science lesson as part of their post-16 options
In progress

Education | 2019 - 2024

Post-16 pathways: the role of peers, family background and expectations

View project
Teacher helping primary school girl with schoolwork in the classroom
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2024

The impact of additional learning needs identification in Wales

View project
Teenage sixth form students taking notes in a lesson
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Comparing inequality and outcomes across post-16 education in the UK

View project
Teenage sixth form students walking into college
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2025

The long-term impact of the Education Maintenance Allowance

View project
Little girl watches TV on her own at home
In progress

Education | 2023 - 2025

Do same language subtitles help children learn to read?

View project
14 year old girl doing homework
In progress

Education | 2022 - 2024

Experiences of 14 to 16 year olds in Further Education in England

View project
Young girl using an iPad at home
New

Education | 2024 - 2024

Early years digital media literacy review

View project
Secondary school music teacher smiles at students working together at a keyboard.
New

Education | 2024 - 2025

Teacher recruitment & retention challenges in England

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

A feasibility and pilot trial of the Early Years Library

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Can digital parenting interventions benefit early language development?

View project
New

Education | 2025 - 2026

Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Vocabulary for Reading: the power of words

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Spending across different stages of education

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Exploring academic selection and grammar schools in Northern Ireland

View project
New

Education | 2024 - 2026

Long-term outcomes of high-achieving disadvantaged children

View project
Teenager hugging their mother
New

Welfare | 2023 - 2025

Juvenile onset rheumatic diseases: education, vocational readiness, & employment

View project
School children with their bicycles in the school yard. Happy as a girl and boy walk pushing them side by side.
New

Education | Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Modifying school choice for more equitable outcomes in England

View project
New

Education | 2022 - 2023

The medium-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pupils with SEND

View project
Reception class children using a parachute in a PE lesson
Reported

Education | 2022 - 2023

A movement and story-telling intervention for reception children

View project
Side view of two female high school students in classroom working on laptops social distancing. Student in foreground is in focus and student in background is blurred
Reported

Education | 2021 - 2022

COVID-19 and disadvantage gaps in England 2020 and 2021

View project
Young boy draws and plays with a globe as part of nursery education
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

COVID-19 and childcare: local impacts across England

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Ethical principles underpinning co-production with young people

View project
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

COVID-19 mitigation measures: education provision and access to special schools

View project
Young-boy-uses-tablet-with-mother-for-maths-learning-Can-maths-apps-add-value-to-learning-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Can maths apps add value to learning?

View project
Male secondary school student working at home on laptop
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on mainstream schools in England

View project
Teenage-girl-looks-at-smartphone-next-to-laptop-Growing-up-under-COVID-19-PROJ
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2022

Growing up under COVID-19

View project
Top view of librarian sitting with five multiethnic children on floor. Teacher reading book to cute girls and young boys at school.
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2022

Comparisons of cognitive skills and educational attainment across the UK

View project
Teenage-pupil-wearing-woolly-hat-writes-on-whiteboard-The-influence-of-headteachers-on-their-schools-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2020 - 2024

The influence of headteachers on their schools

View project
Young-child-blurred-in-background-plays-with-abacus-in-foreground-Early-years-employment-pathways-PROJ
Reported

Education | 2019 - 2020

A systematic review of early years degrees and employment pathways

View project
A middle-aged teacher sits at her desk and helps a female student with a problem in her textbook.
Reported

Education | Welfare | 2020 - 2020

Measuring the disadvantage attainment gap in 16-19 education

View project
Search projects

Profile