The 'Hidden' Mathematical Backgrounds of Undergraduate Social Science Students in England: Bridging the Quantitative Skills Gap(s)

There is ongoing concern over the quantitative skills of UK graduates, which are in increasing demand from employers. Even social science subjects at university can contain substantial quantitative content, yet existing research into students' mathematical preparedness for university has been outdated by subsequent curriculum reform and frequently fails to consider the full range of students' post-16 qualifications. Once acquired, the transfer of these skills from school to university tends to be assumed, despite evidence that transferring learning between contexts is far from straightforward.