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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Earlier target for times tables | Earlier target for times tables |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pupils in England will have to master their times tables a year earlier - by the age of eight, the government says. | Pupils in England will have to master their times tables a year earlier - by the age of eight, the government says. |
| Currently pupils are expected to grasp multiplication tables from two to 10 by the age of nine, but ministers say there is poor subsequent progress. | Currently pupils are expected to grasp multiplication tables from two to 10 by the age of nine, but ministers say there is poor subsequent progress. |
| Last year, only 76% of 11-year-olds reached the level expected in their national curriculum tests, while the target was 85%. | Last year, only 76% of 11-year-olds reached the level expected in their national curriculum tests, while the target was 85%. |
| The government also said phonics would be the "prime approach" for reading. | The government also said phonics would be the "prime approach" for reading. |
| The decision to focus on synthetic phonics - where children learn the sounds of all the letters and combinations of letters first - for teaching reading follows the recommendations of former Ofsted inspections director Jim Rose. | The decision to focus on synthetic phonics - where children learn the sounds of all the letters and combinations of letters first - for teaching reading follows the recommendations of former Ofsted inspections director Jim Rose. |
| We are concerned by some of this year's primary results Department for Education and Skills | We are concerned by some of this year's primary results Department for Education and Skills |
| He said "high-quality phonic work" was the best means for teaching beginners how to read and spell. | He said "high-quality phonic work" was the best means for teaching beginners how to read and spell. |
| Primary framework | Primary framework |
| The updated maths framework for primary schools places greater emphasis on mental arithmetic and will give teachers clearer guidance on the "effective use of calculators". | The updated maths framework for primary schools places greater emphasis on mental arithmetic and will give teachers clearer guidance on the "effective use of calculators". |
| It also focuses on asking pupils to solve problems encountered in everyday life. | It also focuses on asking pupils to solve problems encountered in everyday life. |
| A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "We're proud of our overall record, but we are concerned by some of this year's primary results. | A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "We're proud of our overall record, but we are concerned by some of this year's primary results. |
| "We need to maintain momentum to bring about further improvement and we are already taking decisive action on our concerns. | "We need to maintain momentum to bring about further improvement and we are already taking decisive action on our concerns. |
| "Literacy and numeracy in primary schools are the backbone of a good education. | "Literacy and numeracy in primary schools are the backbone of a good education. |
| "It's now time to update our strategies to reflect improvements in best practice." | "It's now time to update our strategies to reflect improvements in best practice." |
| The department says the framework will come into effect later this term. | The department says the framework will come into effect later this term. |
| Mixed opinions | |
| Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb welcomed the changes, adding: "The new literacy framework puts synthetic phonics at the heart of teaching reading in the reception class and the early years of primary school. | Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb welcomed the changes, adding: "The new literacy framework puts synthetic phonics at the heart of teaching reading in the reception class and the early years of primary school. |
| "This is a welcome reform following overwhelming evidence that synthetic phonics is the most effective method of teaching children to read following the clear conclusions of the Rose review into the teaching of reading." | "This is a welcome reform following overwhelming evidence that synthetic phonics is the most effective method of teaching children to read following the clear conclusions of the Rose review into the teaching of reading." |
| But Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Sarah Teather said: "Memorising their times tables a year earlier is not going to help in the long run if there aren't enough qualified maths teachers when pupils move up into secondary school." | |
| Susan Anderson, director of human resources policy at the CBI, said: "We welcome the emphasis in primary schools on mental arithmetic and using maths to solve practical, everyday problems. | |
| "But this must continue into secondary schools to ensure young people have these essential numeracy skills when they leave school for the workplace." | "But this must continue into secondary schools to ensure young people have these essential numeracy skills when they leave school for the workplace." |