Tag: Maths

Bring in the primary specialists

Bring in the primary specialists

Unlocking children’s potential – and ultimately this country’s future success – must begin in primary school. For far too long subsequent governments have been focusing most of their efforts on improving GCSE results. What many politicians have failed to realise is that in order to improve the end exam results you need to have a…

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Primary education needs an overhaul if we’re to succeed on the global stage

Primary education needs an overhaul if we’re to succeed on the global stage

When I was asked to advise the government three years ago on the new maths curriculum I was hoping for a return to more traditional teaching methods – and to a time when we used to lead the world rather than lag behind everyone else. In fact, our brief was to emulate the world’s most…

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Changing times – Compulsory times tables testing at primary schools

Changing times – Compulsory times tables testing at primary schools

It’s taken long enough but at last education chiefs are recognising the need for children to get the basics right in maths. A key part of this is learning their times tables. The government has announced that all 11-year-olds will be tested on their times tables before leaving primary school. During the progressive education revolution…

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The benefits of reading for fun

The benefits of reading for fun

Reading forms a central part of the English curriculum in schools and the benefits that children receive by encountering a range of different texts in an academic setting are varied and many. Spelling, grammar, creative writing ability and comprehension skills are all improved when children are introduced to challenging literature at an early age. As…

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Are your children prepared for the potential ‘war on illiteracy and innumeracy’?

Are your children prepared for the potential ‘war on illiteracy and innumeracy’?

You may have read the Sunday Times article this weekend (a front-page commentary written by Tim Shipman and Sian Griffiths), about the ‘war on innumeracy’ that could take place over the next few years. The article states that ‘at present the UK ranks 23rd for reading, and 26th for maths in international league tables for…

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