Hi @the-traveller, thanks for the comment. I partly agree in that I would split maths into two at school: Practical Mathematics and Mathematics. The former would be similar to your ideas; how can maths be actually useful in real life. But we still need the analysts, techies, scientists and mathematicians of the future; for them there would be a more rigorous and advanced course, not dragged down by the average or common core or key skills or whatever the new name will be for a granulated dessicated syllabus.
At the moment, mathematics (and the sciences) look like dumbed down academic courses - too easy for the geeks and too incomprehensible and useless for the majority.
Sorry for the weird words once in a while, my phone seems to second guess me once on a while.
Regarding the 2-track approach, I totally agree:
in the end mathematics has a huge marketing problem: it is "sold" the wrong way : it starts off with the excruciatingly boring stuff (trying to give people a "base") and only then tries real world problems.
People should be sold the other way around , find an interesting problem and then learn maths on a as needed basis .... check out Ricardo Semler and Lumiar (he has a TED. Com talk )