Pupils' numeracy skills are still weak in around half of schools
‘Numeracy in key stages 2 and 3: an interim report’ is the second of three reports looking at how a sample of primary and secondary schools is developing pupils’ numeracy skills across the curriculum. Generally, these schools have made some progress since the first year of the survey. However, many of their strategies have yet to make a consistent impact on standards.
Ann Keane, Chief Inspector, says,
“It is pleasing to note the progress made by around half of the schools we inspected. However, it is important to emphasise that there is still a long way to go before schools make a full and consistent impact on improving the standards of pupils’ numeracy skills. There are still too many pupils who lack confidence in key aspects of mathematics, such as division and working with percentages. Pupils’ numerical reasoning skills are generally not strong enough and this is something that we see too often in school inspections and thematic work.
“Staff need more support to widen their knowledge and understanding of strategies to help pupils to use numeracy across the curriculum.
“Teachers need to have a greater understanding of pupils’ strengths and weakness so that they can plan to cater for all abilities, including more-able pupils. In addition, leaders need to focus more on the standards of pupils’ work in lessons and books when they monitor and evaluate the quality of numeracy rather than relying only on lesson observation.”
Best practice case studies are also highlighted in the report. Litchard Primary School in Bridgend has developed a helpful resource to develop pupils’ numeracy skills across the school and teachers have used this in more focused numeracy activities. Two further best-practice case studies exemplify some of the best teaching seen in the surveyed schools.
Recommendations set out ways for schools, local authorities, regional consortia and the Welsh Government to improve pupils’ numeracy skills. They include ensuring that pupils master important number skills, develop numerical reasoning skills in mathematics lessons and other subjects and improve assessment and tracking. The final report in this study will be published in two years’ time so that impact of the Literacy and Numeracy Framework and the National Support Programme can be captured more fully.
Notes to Editors
About the report
This report is published in response to a request for advice from the Welsh Government in the Minister’s annual remit to Estyn for 2013-2014 and is available in full here.
A representative sample of 12 primary and 12 secondary schools took part in the study. All but one of these were in the 2013 baseline study which can be found here.
The findings and recommendations also draw on:
- Inspection findings from 2012-2014;
- PISA 2012 outcomes;
- National Numeracy Tests outcomes 2013 and 2014;
- End of key stage data 2010-2014
- Views from regional consortia
- Related publications.
Best practice case studies
- Litchard Primary School, Bridgend
- Mountain Lane Community Primary School, Flintshire
- St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Vale of Glamorgan
Schools in the study:
- Bryntirion Comprehensive School, Bridgend
- Litchard Primary School, Bridgend
- Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Cardiff
- Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd , Cardiff
- Stebonheath Primary School, Carmarthenshire
- Ysgol Bryngwyn School, Carmarthenshire
- Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd, Conwy
- Ysgol y Creuddyn, Conwy
- Prestatyn High School, Denbighshire
- Ysgol Melyd, Denbighshire
- Elfed High School, Flintshire
- Mountain Lane Community Primary School, Flintshire
- Bassaleg School, Newport
- Marshfield Primary School, Newport
- Traethmelyn Primary School, Port Talbot
- Sandfields Comprehensive School, Port Talbot
- Brynnau Primary School, Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Y Pant Comprehensive, Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Brynmill Primary School, Swansea
- Olfchfa School, Swansea
- St Helen’s RC Junior School, Vale of Glamorgan
- St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Vale of Glamorgan
- Ysgol y Grango, Wrexham
- Penycae Community Primary School, Wrexham
About Estyn
Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. Our aim is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales. We do this by providing an independent, high-quality inspection and advice service.
Our vision is to be recognised through the expertise of our staff as an authoritative voice on learning in Wales.
We are independent from, but funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).
For further information please visit our website www.estyn.gov.uk