‘Hard to focus, difficult to learn’: Covid19 Impacts on teaching, learning and progression for A Levels in Mathematics

Abstract

We explore year 13 (age 17-18) student accounts of how Covid19 has impacted their learning for pre-university mathematics qualifications in England. Findings derive from the final year of a four-year study (2017/18 to 2020/21) exploring enactment and impact of reformed mathematics ‘A Levels’, and efficacy of associated Pearson resources and assessments. Research tools were adapted to focus on impacts of Covid19. In this cohort’s first year of A level (2019/20), teaching and learning was severely disrupted. Teachers anticipated significant, wide-ranging learning gaps as students progressed to year 13. Using data from Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021 we analyse student accounts of how continued disruptions to teaching and learning have impacted them. Variable access to teachers, barriers to collaborative work, and challenges of remote or reduced contact working have resulted in reduced depth and breadth of learning. Additionally, many students reported negative impacts on mathematical confidence and wider mental health

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