The ‘purist’ ideology lead to a restricted view of the resources appropriate for school mathematics. Text book and traditional aids to pure mathematical construction are admitted, such as straight-edge and compasses. Electronic calculators and computers may also be used as tools in mathematics, but only for older students who have demonstrated mastery of the basic concepts. Models, visual aids and resources may be used by the teacher to motivate or to facilitate understanding. However, the ‘hands-on’ exploration of resources by student is practical work, inappropriate to pure mathematics, and is thus reserved for low attainers, who are not studying ‘real’ mathematics, anyway.