maths | Schools Week

TIMSS 2019: Year 9 science performance drops, but England still doing well overall

The performance of year 9 pupils in science has “dropped considerably”, an international study has found. According to the latest trends in international mathematics and science study, performance in year 9 science dropped to a score “significantly lower” than in any iteration of the study going back to 1995. The reasons for this change are […]

EEF: Weekly maths tutoring boosts progress by three months

Children receiving weekly maths tutoring make three months’ more progress than those without a tutor, according to new research from the Education Endowment Foundation. The study examined the impact of tutoring on the maths attainment of year 6 pupils identified by their teachers as working below their age-expected levels in the subject. The tutoring was […]

Schools won’t have to contribute to early career bonuses for maths teachers

The government has confirmed it will proceed with its plans for early career bonuses for maths teachers who choose to stay in the profession, and has announced that schools will not have to contribute at all to the payments. In October last year Schools Week reported that the maximum bursary on offer to new maths […]

What I learned from the Shanghai maths teacher exchange

The UK can certainly learn from the Far East, says Caroline Hamilton, but cultural context is key, and what our teachers need most is time-efficient professional development Two years ago, I was fortunate to be part of the Shanghai exchange as part of the Maths Hubs initiative. The experience was fascinating, and not at all […]

Where did maths mastery come from?

The roots of some ‘Asian’ teaching approaches lie closer to home than you might think, observes Mark Boylan Read or hear the word “maths” in England right now, and you’re likely to see or hear the word “mastery”, too. Teaching for mastery is both the name of the government’s preferred teaching approach in maths and […]

New early-learning goals to be trialled in 25 primary schools

A new assessment model for reception pupils will be piloted in 25 schools from September. New draft Department for Education guidance sets out proposed changes to “early-learning goals” that reception pupils are assessed against. The new approach will be tested in pilot schools in the autumn ahead of a consultation and decision on a national […]

The chancellor can’t make maths schools add up

Several leading universities have declined the opportunity to open specialist maths schools, and the government won’t admit how many are now due to open, six months after setting aside millions in extra funding. In last November’s budget, the chancellor Philip Hammond (pictured) promised an extra £350,000 a year for every new maths schools – institutions […]

Disadvantaged pupils’ maths attainment sees England fall behind

England needs to double the number of disadvantaged pupils who achieve the top GCSE grades in maths to catch up with the best-performing countries around the world, according to new Education Policy Institute (EPI) research. Just one in 10 disadvantaged pupils in England achieve a grade 7, 8 or 9 in GCSE maths, while nearly twice […]

EEF: Calculators do not limit learning in maths

Using calculators in maths lessons doesn’t erode pupils’ skills and may actually make them better at problem solving, according to new research from the Education Endowment Foundation. The report on ‘Improving mathematics in key stages 2 and 3’ found that calculators do not hinder the development of pupils’ arithmetic abilities, and has a positive impact […]