Michael Gove's new maths curriculum risks damaging pupils by introducing them to multiplication and division 'years too early', says report
“The new curriculum has no rationale and no precedent,” claims international primary maths expert
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Education Secretary Michael Gove is wrong to suggest his new maths curriculum is based on those of high performing countries like Singapore, says a report out today.
Instead, it introduces children to division and multiplication tables at too young an age - risking damage to pupils, it argues.
The report, by primary maths adviser Rebecca Hanson - who is manager of an international discussion forum on the teaching of maths, argues that the Coalition Government’s plans for a new primary school curriculum - due to be introduced in September - should be immediately suspended.
The plans conflict with the Singapore curriculum in all the key areas of teaching the subject, her report says.
For instance, they require multiplication tables to be at the centre of the curriculum for six- to seven-year-olds, whereas the Singapore curriculum specifically excludes them at that age. The same is true for division, it adds,
On addition and subtraction, the UK plan requires six- and seven-year-olds to manipulate numbers two years before their counterparts in Singapore.
“The new curriculum has no rationale and no precedent,” said Ms Hanson. “It is unique in demanding that substantial quantities of abstract mathematics be taught to six-year-olds - something which all other curricula protect against as the damage doing so causes to the mental development of some children is well understood.
“Without proper time spent on mastering the foundation skills needed to apply the Singapore curriculum’s approach, children will struggle and fail under the new mathematics curriculum. Its implementation needs to be immediately suspended.”
A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said; "It is totally wrong to claim that the maths curriculum will damage children's learning of maths."
It was based on what happened in the world's most successful countries - including Singapore.
"The simple fact is England is lagging behind other countries in maths and we must be more ambitious," she added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments