 gpnnck2010:You may be interested inThe Value of Mathematics by Laura Kounine, John Marks and Elizabeth Truss, which makes a comparative study of public examinations mathematics papers between 1951 and 2006. It can be downloaded free as a PDF
I couldn't get the previous link to work, but found it here instead. Some interesting quotes, such as: At the core of this problem has been the diminution of the O-level/GCSE which has gone from being a key "staging post" to a "tick-box test". Scores of less than 20 per cent on the top paper regularly suffice to gain a grade C, despite a much reduced level of difficulty. Many students are turned off by the narrow teaching which results, and this has led to a generation of "lost mathematicians". [...] Reform has conducted an analysis of O-level/GCSE examinations over time. From 1951 to 1970 these were a rigorous test of thought and initiative in algebra, arithmetic and geometry. Students were required to think for themselves. By 1980 questions were becoming simpler. Following the introduction of the GCSE there was a sharp drop in difficulty, with questions leading pupils step by step to a solution. Pass marks were lowered throughout the period. [...] Relevance has replaced rigour in the belief that this would make mathematics more accessible. At the same time high stakes assessment has reduced what should be a coherent discipline to "pick ‘n mix", with pupils being trained to answer specific shallow questions on a range of topics where marks can be most easily harvested. Instead a strong sequential approach ought to be taken building up a robust toolkit of cognitive and problem solving skills. In the modern global economy, it is the combination of core techniques, flexible thinking, logic and initiative that will be critical to future success. I have heard "Reform" (the comissioners of the report) described as "centre-right" politically. Ben Goldacre took issue with some of the maths in the report in his entertaining and informative "Bad Science" column.
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