Record maths grades put down to calculator ban

BANNING calculators in the classroom has led to a record number of children passing maths tests at 11, ministers have claimed.

New government figures showed that 87 per cent of pupils gained at least a level four on maths – a record high. Since 2010, the figure has increased by eight percentage points, which is the equivalent of 46,000 more pupils reaching the expected levels.

Last year, calculators were banned in maths Sats in England but academics questioned whether this would raise standards.

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has argued that children can become too reliant on calculators if they start using them at an early age. He has campaigned for primary school children to “master addition, subtraction, times tables and division, using quick, reliable written methods”. Teachers said banning calculators was not the reason for the rise in standards in the subject and attributed the results to quality teaching. The figures also showed that 90,000 more pupils were leaving primary school with vital skills.

Four out of five pupils are now reaching the standards expected of them in the three Rs. But this means as many as 116,000 children are still failing to achieve the necessary level.

Mr Gibb said: “A good grounding in reading, writing and maths sets a young child up for life – so I am delighted that 90,000 more children are starting secondary school with a firm grasp of the basics compared to just five years ago.

“These results vindicate our decision to expand the valuable academies programme into primary schools with thousands of children on course to receive a better education.”

However, teachers were sceptical that reforms had anything to do with raising standards in maths in particular.

Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Calculators and other electronic equipment have a role to play. I don’t think that calculators explain the improvement.”

Separately, government figures showed that sponsored academies had improved performance in previously underperforming primary schools.

The percentage of pupils achieving the expected level in reading, writing and maths has now reached 71 per cent – a four-point rise on last year.

The data also offered a breakdown on the worst performing areas. Schools in Medway, Kent had the worst results with only 73 per cent of pupils achieving level four in the three Rs, down one point on last year. Those in Bedford, Doncaster, Luton and Poole were also among the worst England.