Times table to be learnt at Primary School

It appears that the standard of teaching of numeracy has deteriorated to the extent that many 11 year olds cannot do the basic arithmetic which most six year olds could do 30 years ago. 

I wonder why ????  

K 

Well you say that K, but I'm not so sure that is the case!

Certainly whilst my kids have not learned by rote the times tables (not in school), the level level of mathematics in general is much higher than I did at their age.

My boy who is 10 has been doing advanced angles, manipulation and sums with fractions and even basic algebra for the last year in primary school - most of which I did not cover until secondary school and he is still a year away from secondary school!

Whilst the focus is certainly different from 30 years ago, I would personally say he has a better understanding of the core principles of mathematics than I had at his age!  

I have also wondered why 11 & 12 times tables still exist in this metric age. Has anyone's lives been transformed by knowing the 12 times tables. We can all learn something parrot fashion but do we understand? Its a bit like leaning a poem off by heart but not understanding the content or the feeling it portrays. Children should enjoy and understand numbers that is unlikely to happen by learning the 12 times table.

David 

Well you say that K, but I'm not so sure that is the case!

Certainly whilst my kids have not learned by rote the times tables (not in school), the level level of mathematics in general is much higher than I did at their age.

My boy who is 10 has been doing advanced angles, manipulation and sums with fractions and even basic algebra for the last year in primary school - most of which I did not cover until secondary school and he is still a year away from secondary school!

Whilst the focus is certainly different from 30 years ago, I would personally say he has a better understanding of the core principles of mathematics than I had at his age!  

Good post CJ! 

I don't think the announcement actually said times tables weren't being taught in primary schools - certainly when I retired 5 years ago it was being done and youngsters were entering secondary school with much improved numeracy skills. Of course, good schools promote both styles of learning, there is a place for rote learning of basics alongside understanding of more complex ideas.

This announcement, while to be welcomed, will change very little - another government soundbite to show they're "doing something" to "raise standards"! 

Well you say that K, but I'm not so sure that is the case!

Certainly whilst my kids have not learned by rote the times tables (not in school), the level level of mathematics in general is much higher than I did at their age.

My boy who is 10 has been doing advanced angles, manipulation and sums with fractions and even basic algebra for the last year in primary school - most of which I did not cover until secondary school and he is still a year away from secondary school!

Whilst the focus is certainly different from 30 years ago, I would personally say he has a better understanding of the core principles of mathematics than I had at his age!  

Write your comments here...I accept that in a number of cases the brightest primary pupils will have an excellent grasp of arithmetic and basic mathematics when they move up to secondary school.  They will have had encouragement and input from their parents. 

This is not the case for many of the mainstream primary pupils, as highlighted on the BBC news this morning and what I was eluding to in my post.

 To have reached the end of primary education and failing to understand the subject of numeracy as reported, is a poor enditctment of the standard of teaching in certain primary schools.  Of that there is absolutely no doubt. 

K 

Ah OK

I would suggest that the 12x table still has merit as it enables mental dexterity. The ability to work apart from a decimal point will improve a childs ability to manipulate numbers without recourse to a calculator.

and we still use inches

I've always found the 12x useful for working in feet and inches. I see this new plan is only for English schools.

I quite agree that the times tables should be taught in such a manner. Even today for me I workout basic figures in my head for everyday things! I don't agree it's testing, 11 plus all over again. teachers should be able to ensure compliance.