OMT News – Maths, Science and Schools (November 2026)
4 Nov 2026
Welcome
This month’s newsletter covers what has changed in maths, science and schools across the UK, plus news and practical advice for families who educate at home. Each item ends with what it means for you, so you can go straight to the parts that affect your child. If there’s a topic you’d like covered next month, send me a message.
Maths news
GCSE maths pass rates slipped again this year, a new study questions moving pupils between sets mid-year, and the national curriculum consultation has been delayed.
1. GCSE maths results fell slightly, mostly because of resits
In England, 57.2% of maths entries reached grade 4 or above in 2026, down from 58.2% in 2025. Among 16-year-olds the figure was almost unchanged at 71.8%. The fall comes mainly from students aged 17 and over retaking the exam, whose pass rate dropped from 17.1% to 15.3%. The National Reference Test, published the same day, showed a long-term trend of slightly improved maths attainment (Tes, 20 August 2026).
What it means for you: the national picture for 16-year-olds is stable, and the decline sits in the resit group.
My take: the resit pass rate is very low, which is a good reason to build solid foundations before the first attempt.
2. Moving sets mid-year rarely improves results
Research for the National Institute of Teaching looked at more than 10,000 students across 21 secondary schools in one trust. Moving up a set during the year was not followed by better attainment in maths, English, history or geography, and students moved down generally did worse. Science was the one subject where attainment improved after a move. The researchers stress that this is an observational study from one trust and does not prove cause (Tes, 3 November 2026).
What it means for you: if a school suggests a change of set, ask what support your child will get with the move, and don’t assume it will help on its own.
My take: the study is cautious, and so am I. It’s a reason to ask questions, not a rule.
3. The national curriculum consultation has been delayed
The Department for Education had said draft curriculum proposals would be published for consultation in September. They are now expected “later this year”. The department says it will consult by the end of the year, publish the final content as soon as possible next calendar year, and keep first teaching in September 2028 (Tes, 16 October 2026).
What it means for you: nothing changes in classrooms now. In last month’s newsletter I said the final version was due in spring 2027, and that date now looks less certain.
My take: the September 2028 start still stands, so there’s no need to change anything yet.
Science news
Access to triple science depends heavily on where a child goes to school, and formula and equation sheets are staying in GCSE exams.
1. Triple science: a postcode lottery, say teachers
A survey of almost 2,000 science teachers and technicians found that only about a third of educators in schools with higher levels of free school meal eligibility expect to offer all three sciences. In schools with low eligibility the figure was half. More than half (52%) of the higher-eligibility schools said a lack of science teachers is a barrier. The government is considering a triple science entitlement, which would let any student who wants to take biology, chemistry and physics as three separate GCSEs do so (ASE, 8 September 2026).
What it means for you: ask the school early which science route your child will follow, ideally before options are chosen. Triple science covers more content and can keep more subject choices open.
My take: an entitlement is only worth something if there are teachers to deliver it, so I’d treat it as a plan, not a promise.
2. Formula and equation sheets stay in GCSE exams
Ofqual has decided that exam boards must keep providing formula and equation sheets in GCSE maths, physics and combined science for exams taken from 2028, for the rest of the life of the current courses. Boards can’t set questions that are answered just by copying from the sheet. Ofqual expects the sheets to stay consistent with previous years (Ofqual, GOV.UK).
What it means for you: students don’t need to memorise every formula, but they do need to know which one to use and how to apply it. Practising with the sheet in hand is the best preparation.
My take: this rewards understanding over memory. The skill that wins marks is choosing the right tool and showing the working.
Schools in the UK
The government’s SEND reform bill has slipped into 2027, and a House of Lords committee wants numeracy to start in the early years. Both stories concern England.
1. SEND reform bill not expected until the new year
The government’s bill to reform support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is now likely to be published early in 2027, according to Dame Christine Lenehan, the Department for Education’s SEND adviser. She said the aim is still for the new system to start in September 2029. The proposals include changes to education, health and care plans (EHCPs), a new three-tier system of support, and an individual support plan for every pupil with SEND. The government has yet to publish its response to the consultation (Tes, 3 November 2026).
What it means for you: the new system isn’t due to start until September 2029, so current arrangements stay in place for now. If your child has SEND, keep records of what support the school provides, as they will help in any future review.
My take: the details matter more than the headlines, so I’ll report back when the bill appears.
2. Lords call for numeracy to start in the early years
A House of Lords committee says 8 million adults have numeracy skills below those expected of a nine-year-old. Its report warns that maths anxiety can be passed from parents to children, and urges the government to add counting and spatial words such as “up”, “down” and “inside” to official early-years guidance. It also recommends training for teachers on dyscalculia and continued investment in specialist maths teachers (Tes, 3 November 2026).
What it means for you: how adults talk about maths at home matters. Phrases like “I was never a maths person” can be absorbed by children.
My take: small, relaxed, everyday maths, such as counting, sorting and estimating at the shops, is a good habit at any age.
Home education news
The new register for home-educated children in England is now law, but it is not yet in force and no start date has been announced.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
The Act received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026. Once the relevant parts come into force, each council in England must keep a register of children who are not in school, and parents of eligible children will have to provide information for it. Councils will also have to provide advice and information to parents of children on their register. The Act also makes councils’ consent necessary before certain children can be withdrawn from school for home education, namely those at special schools and those with child protection plans or enquiries. In a letter to councils on 30 April, the Department for Education said these measures were not yet in force, implementation would not be immediate, and the 2019 elective home education guidance remains current. It plans to consult on draft statutory guidance and regulations first. I haven’t found a start date announced since that letter (DfE letter to councils, 30 April 2026; Schools Week).
What it means for you: if you already educate your child at home, nothing changes today. Existing law and guidance still apply, and the consultation will be the chance to have your say.
My take: keep a simple record of what your child studies, such as topics covered, books used and work samples. It’s good practice now, and it will make any future conversation with the council straightforward.
Home education law differs across the UK. This item covers England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements. For advice on a specific situation, speak to your local council or a home education charity.
Advice for home-educated students
Short, regular practice and an early exam plan matter more than long, occasional sessions. Here are six habits that work well for students learning at home.
1. Plan backwards from the exam. If your child will sit GCSEs or A-levels as a private candidate, contact exam centres this term. Centres decide whether to accept private candidates, and each sets its own deadlines and fees. Ask about any practical or non-exam assessment requirements at the same time.
2. Start past papers early. Exam boards publish past papers and mark schemes on their own websites. Try one under timed conditions, mark it, and note every topic that lost marks. The list of lost marks is more useful than the total.
3. Little and often. Twenty to thirty minutes a day on maths usually beats one long weekly session, because ideas have time to settle.
4. Mix topics. Once a topic has been learned, practise it alongside others. In the exam nobody says which method to use, so choosing the method is a skill worth practising.
5. Ask your child to explain it. If they can talk you through a method step by step, they understand it. If they can’t, that shows exactly where to go back.
6. Use the formula sheet. Exam boards will keep providing formula and equation sheets in GCSE maths, physics and combined science, so practise with the sheet beside you and focus on choosing the right formula.
If you’d like help with maths at any level, I offer a free, no-obligation trial lesson, online or in Oxford. You’ll find details at www.oxfordmt.com, or you can email admin@oxfordmt.com.
Marek
Oxford Mathematics Tuition
Sources
Pages opened for this edition, all accurate as of 4 November 2026:
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