ABSTRACT
For no other subject other than mathematics would grown adults confess a lack of knowledge or a complete inability to cope. Yet very intelligent people will tell you without flinching that they hate mathematics and they happily admit that they cannot do it. When students come to teacher education many bring with them the same sorts of fear of mathematics displayed by the general population at large. Many of the students have had a bad experience of mathematics and as they want to be primary school teachers know that they will have to teach it but at the same time realize that it is not their strongest asset. Indeed many will have had very little difficulty in attaining the requisite non-mathematical paper qualifications to enter the course, but find the mathematics qualification a problem. In order to enter teacher education courses a student must attain qualifications an ‘A’ level or equivalent in certain subjects and in addition must attain GCSE in mathematics and English. The minimum requirement in mathematics needs to be attained by all entering training courses. To attain this some students will have spent a significant time concentrating on mathematics. Indeed some will have had a number of resits in mathematics. Many, feel a lack of confidence which is fed by the general feeling of society that mathematics is hard, but partially because repeated application to the subject has not brought them any real feelings of success.
