The first ever set of national data,
alongside new investment from Government in high quality maths
teaching.
The data shows an average score of 20 out of
25, with full marks the most common score, and
follows a new Multiplications Table Check sat by year 4 children
across the country over the summer.
The check includes 25 times tables questions, up to 12 x 12, with
pupils having a maximum of six seconds to answer each one. It
helps schools determine whether pupils can recall their times
tables fluently - an essential skill for future success in the
subject and day-to-day life. The Multiplication Tables Check is
the first statutory assessment students complete online, either
on a PC or tablet.
The Department for Education is also announcing funding of up to
£59.3 million to continue driving up the quality of maths
teaching in schools across the country, in line the Government’s
commitment to making sure every child leaves school with a strong
grasp of the basics.
The funding will support the continuation of the Maths Hubs Programmethrough
to the end of the next academic year. The flagship programme
which started in 2014 aims to reach 11,000 primary and secondary
schools by 2023 and 40 hubs across England are now helping
schools to improve their teaching quality.
Today’s announcements build on the significant boost to school
funding announced in the Autumn Statement last week, with an
additional £2bn going into schools’ budgets both next year and
the following year.
Schools Minister, said:
Learning your times tables fluently is so important for children
– both for their time in school and in day-to-day life, and
today’s data gives us an important benchmark to build from over
the years to come.
Mathematics is vital for doing essential calculations like how a
higher base rate will affect your mortgage or working out the
best multi-pack bargains in a supermarket.
The additional funding for maths hubs announced today is also
crucial, as we continue raising the standard of maths teaching
across the country and driving towards our target for 90% of
children leaving primary school with the expected standard in
Mathematics and English by 2030.
Pupils knowing their times tables will make more complex
mathematics like algebra and long division simpler to process and
give children the platform they need to move on to more advanced
mental arithmetic.
The Multiplication Table Checks results show:
- Of pupils who took the check, the mean average score was 19.8
out of 25.
- 25 out of 25 was the most common score (27% of pupils
achieved this score) and 24 out of 25 was the second most common
score (12% of pupils achieved this score).
- London was the highest performing region, with an average
score of 20.9.
- South West was the lowest performing region, with an average
score of 19.1.
- Over 625,000 students took the check in the summer.
The results from the data published today will provide teachers
with standardised information to help to identify pupils who have
not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support
can be provided.
