Literacy and numeracy

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on schools secretary Ed Balls' comments on literacy and numeracy standards among 11 to 14-year-olds.

Writing in the Times Educational Supplement on Friday, Balls said: "We need a new focus on standards and discipline in the classroom.

"More and more children are reaching the expected levels in English and maths, but we have not done well enough at raising the performance of lower-achieving students, especially at the crucial key stages two and three… over the coming year we will be focussing our efforts on reading and maths in primary schools and personalised learning in secondary schools so no-one falls behind."

MP Response: Stephen Williams MP, Liberal Democrat Schools Spokesman

“Ministers should put their champagne on ice. It is a hollow boast to claim the ‘best ever’ results when four out of ten children still leave primary school without an adequate grasp of the basics in Maths, English and Science.

“Despite some marginal improvements, disturbing trends still persist.

“It’s worrying that not enough children, particularly boys, are reaching the required standard in writing.

Good communication skills are essential in life, and it is important these are learnt at an early stage.

“Far too many children are leaving primary school without the skills needed to deal with secondary education.”

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

To send a comment to the ATL, click here

The ATL said: "Like previous education ministers, Ed Balls is being badly advised about how to raise standards, as the government puts it.

"The present testing system creates a hothouse atmosphere in schools, where struggling pupils become demoralised and failure is built in.

"ATL argues for an end to constantly uprooting plants to check how they're growing, and freeing up teachers to select curriculum and teaching methods which engage those who find learning difficult."