MPs blast "disgraceful" primary education
MPs blast "disgraceful" primary education
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Wednesday, 06, May 2009 08:17
An influential committee of MPs has launched a scathing attack on the state of primary education in the UK.
A report by the Commons' committee of public accounts criticised the fact that improvements in the mathematics results of primary school pupils have levelled off since 2000.
Commenting on the findings, committee chairman Edward Leigh branded it "disgraceful" that over one fifth of all primary school children reach the end of their primary education without a secure grasp of basic mathematical skills.
He added: "This can have serious long-term consequences: for many then continue through secondary school without acquiring basic numeracy skills, impairing their chances in life and leaving them later in need of expensive remedial education.
"The Department for Children Schools and Families' national strategy has helped to improve primary mathematics teaching and learning. But, despite the £2.3 billion spent each year on teaching maths in primary schools, improvements in attainment have recently levelled off."
He also added that social class was currently too influential a factor in terms of its effect on pupil attainment.
Mr Leigh said today's report showed there was a "clear link" between deprivation and underachievement in primary maths, adding urgent action was required by the government.
He added: "The department's ten-year programme to train 13,000 specialist maths teachers will not benefit some primary schools for another decade. That's far too long; the department needs to look for ways to accelerate the programme."
The MPs claim despite the millions spent on improving primary education, improvements in mathematics results have levelled off since the start of the millennium.
Last year, 79 per cent of pupils met the government's expected standard at Key Stage 2 in national tests. The figures were the highest on record, but well short of the target of 85 per cent set for 2006.
In 2008, 1,648 schools were deemed to be underperforming in mathematics compared with 3,570 in 2003, a reduction of 54 per cent. However, there is still a big gap in performance at school level that is partly linked to deprivation, the MPs claim.
Today's report also claims weaknesses persist in vital areas of teaching, such as the use and application of mathematics to real-life situations and the assessment of pupils' progress.