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The Evolution of School Mathematics Discourse is a research project running from 2011 to 2014 at the Institute of Education. The project considers how school mathematics discourse has changed over the last 30 years primarily through detailed analysis of exam questions and students' responses.

The overarching aim is to investigate changes since the introduction of GCSE to the mathematics that students are expected to learn and the approaches they are expected to take towards mathematics. The study will provide insight into how changes in curriculum and assessment may affect pupils' mathematical learning.

The main objectives are:

• • to develop a means of analysis of the discourse of mathematics examinations at GCSE level that will allow a characterisation of the nature of mathematical activity required of students and that will be sensitive to changes over time;

  • to identify and characterise differences in the nature of mathematical activity required of students at GCSE level at different points since its inception;

  • to investigate how differences in the discourse of mathematics examination questions may affect the ways students approach the mathematics;

  • to provide a basis for contribution to debates about changes in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment methods;

  • to provide knowledge and analytic tools to inform the design of mathematics examinations and curricular materials.