Review backs schools maths specialists

A government-commissioned review has recommended that a maths specialist be placed in every primary school.

The report on primary school maths in England published on Tuesday called for more expertise and a focus on teaching maths at a young age.

It also recommended that young children should be encouraged to play with numbers and spend time cooking with their parents to improve their understanding of the subject.

Parents should also assume a greater role in helping their children to pick up basic maths, according to report author Sir Peter Williams.

The government has accepted the findings of the review in full.

Schools secretary Ed Balls plans to train more than 1,000 specialist maths teachers each year over the next 10 years.

This should ensure that every primary school has one maths "champion" to teach the subject.

Sir Peter, the chancellor of Leicester University, told BBC Radio Four that current standards of teaching the subject are inadequate.

"Mathematics is quite a challenging subject in its own right," he said. "And what we are suggesting in my review is that the government should take a selected number of teachers and up-skill around 13,000 of them.

"This makes roughly one 'maths champion' in every school to do the job even better."

Sir Peter also suggested ways in which current primary school teachers can improve the way they teach the subject.

"When children are very young, in nursery class, we are talking about learning maths through play and really stressing the world play," he stated.

"For older children, we are talking about oral maths. Get them to talk about mathematics. Get them to lose their fear by talking about it to each other and to their teacher."

He added that it is important that children get over the current attitude towards maths in schools.

He said: "It has somehow become acceptable to say, 'I was never any good at maths'. Can you imagine the effect on a young child if their parents say that in their home?"

The review stated that children should master the basics of mathematics by the age of seven, and leave school "without a fear of maths". 

Currently nearly a quarter of 11-year-olds leave primary school without the expected levels of numeracy.

The National Union of Teachers welcomed the report and its findings as "eminently sensible".

Acting general secretary Christine Blower said: "Extra resources should be guaranteed for posts for maths specialists in small primary schools. Indeed mathematics tuition carried out by qualified teachers should be guaranteed for all children who need it.

"Continuing professional development in mathematics, or in any other subject for that matter, cannot just be added to the end of the school day. It should be part of a planned strategy which includes within school day provision and sabbaticals."