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John Rubinstein

@jrub.bsky.social
571 followers 591 following 467 posts

Teacher of A level maths and further maths. Ex-principal of a sixth form college. Now a Londoner but still loyal to Hull.

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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Came across this quote today from St Augustine: “The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty promises. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell.”
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Does anyone teach row reduction as a method for finding the inverse of a 3x3 matrix? This is the method I was brought up with (SMP A level maths many years ago). It is never mentioned in specs and mark schemes but I assume it’s an acceptable method? #ALevelMaths #FurtherMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I was cycling to work this morning and as I came to a crossroads, I noticed another cyclist coming toward me on the other side. He waited at the red light and then set off when it turned green. I make a habit of writing down rare or notable events.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Why has Piddington declared itself a principality? Doesn’t it need a prince for that?
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Interesting article
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Has anyone researched the latest ‘best place to buy calculators’ before I do? #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Anyone around north London can teach A level maths for a few days at an outstanding sixth form college in Harrow on the Hill? Their results were fab, and they are massively over subscribed and maths numbers are bouncing ... I taught there three years myself, brilliant place to teach. #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Michaela School got 70% of A level grades at A or A*. That’s double the rate at my school. But Michaela only got two students into Oxbridge, same as my school, and I’m sure their sixth form must be bigger. So, why only two?
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
BBC are reporting the regional gap in A Level results, saying it’s a post code lottery, that some students are doing worse just because of where they live, implying some regions just have worse schools. Surely that’s facile. The regional differences are driven by demographic differences.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Lucy Powell 2 Esther Phillipson 0
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Email comes from a Year 13 A level maths student who is on holiday abroad somewhere. Not quite sure how to answer …
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
@hcsstweets.bsky.social Do you know: have City done enough business to avoid the points deduction?
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
So, Edexcel paper 3 looks reasonable. A bit weird that they specified vertical resolving in the inclined plane question (an ‘or otherwise’ would have been nice) but overall no complaints. Some students say the stats was harder and some say the mechanics, and that’s a good sign.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
My new favourite LDS question: What is the modal value of daily rainfall in Jacksonville in 1987? #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Edexcel Paper 2 looks a good paper and exactly in line with our expectations in terms of content (unlike last year). #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Reaction online says that Edexcel Paper 2 was much easier than paper 1. But one mention that there were three logarithmic modelling questions raises my suspicions. I wonder if they did another late paper substitution? Easy to do as the maths exam papers only reach schools the day before the exam.
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Reposted by John Rubinstein
Hannah R @missradders.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
You don’t protest by setting buses on fire. You’re a rioter. You don’t protest by setting refugees’ houses on fire and attacking black people in the street. You’re a racist. You aren’t on the right side of history by staying silent whilst these facists rise. Speak up. You too, Keir.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
I have curated a set of questions based on likely topics for Edexcel Paper 2 #ALevelMaths with answers at the end. Feel free to use. drive.google.com/file/d/1-CMp...
drive.google.com
Practice Questions for Paper 2 June 2026.pdf
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Some of my students pointing out that two questions on the Edexcel Paper 1 yesterday are identical to Madasmaths questions. I guess Edexcel examiners were bound to run out of ideas eventually. #Alevelmaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Having seen the Edexcel Paper 1 now, I don’t think it is as hard as people are saying. Also not sure about some people’s topic lists for paper 2. Bicen says integration by substitution definite for paper 2 but see Q10c on paper 1. Will try to produce something in coming days. #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Wembley! Up the Hull!
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
I like to give my students in #ALevelMaths numerical answers and not full mark schemes. Yesterday I compiled a long set of revision questions for core pure and uploaded them to ChatGPT. It gave me numerical answers in about one minute, saving me a lot of time. (I wonder if they are all correct?)
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Edexcel Core Pure 2 paper likely topics #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Edexcel Core Pure 1 sounds like it was okay, but I don’t get to see the paper until tomorrow.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Nice quadratic inequality question, at least I like it. #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
My Y12s were doing their test corrections in class today. They were all writing in green ink. I told them I was impressed with their training but I don’t actually care what colour pens they use. Shocked, they asked what Ofsted would say. I was an Ofsted inspector 12 years … #ALevelMaths #mathstoday
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Would you say that the area between curve and y-axis being calculated as integral of xdy is on the A level spec? #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Warm-up questions for (Edexcel) Core Pure Maths. I intend to print on A3 and give them to students on the morning of 14th May. #ALevelMaths drive.google.com/file/d/1X9fZ...
drive.google.com
Core Pure Warm-up (1).pdf
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
New research from the Institute shows that setting > mixed-ability in maths. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
theguardian.com
Teaching in classes grouped by ability does not hamper progress of less able pupils, study finds
Research on maths teaching in English secondary schools upends decades of debate over mixed-ability education
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Just checking, if anyone who does Edexcel Further #ALevelMaths could confirm: am I right in thinking that this question is not on the Core Pure syllabus? It came from madasmaths.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
@hcsstweets.bsky.social With Wrexham losing, I reckon City qualify for the play-offs if they win 3 of their last 4 games. And probably, as several top teams play each other, they can fall a little short of that.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
@tommctague.bsky.social Great editor’s note (as always the article I look forward to most) but for one thing. Durham is lovely but not God’s own country, which is very much Yorkshire.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I’m in love with these photos by Misan Harriman at a free exhibition at Hope 93 (on Eastcastle Street just behind Oxford Street).
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
@jvl.org.uk No Jewish bloc at the antiwar march today 😢
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
In #MathsToday I am marking #ALevelMaths mock Stats papers and getting depressed. Students seem incapable of giving contextual replies in plain English.
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Reposted by John Rubinstein
Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
*unless in Minnesota
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Hang on …. Cambridge maths applicants will have to take both TMUA and STEP?! Three entrance exams?! #ALevelMaths
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
If you have MUBI, watch the Spanish series ‘The New Years’. It’s the best thing I have watched on TV for a long time. Worth signing up to MUBI to binge it.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
For anyone interested in history/WW2 or stories of real people going through extraordinary times, sometimes shocking and often moving, this is a fantastic book. Just finished it but going to call it one of my favourite reads in 2025.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
@mrsmaths.bsky.social My students have been working their way though your further maths practice core pure papers as a revision (double) lesson before their mocks. Absolutely brilliant questions: thank you so much.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
In #MathsToday I gave my further #ALevelMaths students a vectors worksheet to do as revision for forthcoming mocks. I accidentally used a set of questions they had previously done as homework but no one noticed!
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Just finished the fourth and last episode of Trespasses on Channel 4. Excellent. I recommend it.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Apart from madasmaths, where is the best place to find very hard exam-style questions for (Edexcel) Further Maths? #ALevelMaths #MathsToday
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
@andrewhickey.500songs.com Interesting documentary last night on Sky Arts ‘I was a teenage Sex Pistol’, Glen Matlock’s story. A lot of talking heads and clips. A well done, informative and entertaining story. Still available on catch up.
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
This may have come up before but is is arccotx or arcotx? #AlevelMaths #MathsToday
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
And breathe
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
I am teaching differentiation practical problems at the moment and wondering which area/volume formulae students need to know. For example, surface area of a cone? Is there a list somewhere of assumed knowledge for #AlevelMaths ? #MathsToday
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
I gave my Y12 students a test today in #ALevelMaths . They complained afterwards that they didn’t know what a rhombus is. I don’t teach GCSE: would you not expect students to know what a rhombus is at GCSE?
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Don’t you hate it when a student asks for help with part (iv) of a STEP question?
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John Rubinstein @jrub.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
I recommend this movie. Thrilling and funny and entertaining. And incredible soundtrack.
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