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Rene and Fred England Centre of Mathematics Excellence

Rene and Fred England Centre of Mathematics Excellence

Overview

The Roedean School vision around Mathematics is for every pupil to feel empowered to tackle the historically male-dominated field of Mathematics with confidence, and for every one of them to enjoy the subject, approaching it with wonderment and awe.

At Roedean we hope to expose our students to a wide variety of Mathematical topics, thus equipping them with the necessary skills to cope with any first-year mathematical course at any university in the world. Further Studies Mathematic (formerly known as Advanced Programme Mathematics) is an essential bridge between school mathematics and university mathematics. The evidence is overwhelming that pupils who complete Further Studies Mathematics at school have a far higher chance of passing any university mathematics course.

The number of students taking this advanced subject has grown exponentially in recent years. About 6% of the Roedean 2014 Matriculation group took Advanced Programme Mathematics, while the percentage of Matriculants doing Advanced Programme Mathematics by 2019 had risen to 30%.  This compares to a National average of Matriculants doing AP Maths of 0,7% (Government school matriculants and IEB matriculants all register for the IEB Advanced Programme Mathematics Examination). This high level of enrolment indicates that Roedean girls are feeling positive and confident about their ability to do, and enjoy, Mathematics. Girls are not in any way coerced into doing Further Studies Mathematics; their decision to do this optional subject is entirely voluntary.

The proportion of girls doing Mathematical Literacy is very low: The Matric 2019 class had 14% of the grade doing Mathematical Literacy. This compares to a National average of around 58% of Matriculants doing Mathematical Literacy. The IEB Matriculation enrolment for Mathematical Literacy was 34% of total registered candidates.

The Mathematics Department aims to maximise the mathematical potential of every pupil at this school, and endeavours to make their mathematical experience a positive one.

Dale Quaker

Dale Quaker is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cupric Africa, a private equity owned mining company which through its Botswana sister company Khoemacau Copper recently completed the building of its copper silver project.

He was previously the CFO of the Khoemacau Group leading the finance function as the Group transitioned from an exploration company, through the fundraising of a $650m debt, streaming and equity funding package through to completion of construction..

Prior to joining Cupric, he was an independent consultant to the mining and construction industries. In his last corporate role, he headed up the marketing and logistics function for Xstrata Coal South Africa, after having fulfilled a senior finance role in the company previously..

Dale held roles at BHPBillition subsidiary, Samancor Chrome, both at the operations and corporate office in Johannesburg. Dale is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant and has three daughters at Roedean.

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