Region’s schools to drive improvement in Maths grades

The national network of ‘hubs’, announced today, will mimic the methods of teaching used in classrooms in China, Singapore and Japan and designed to provide a model for the rest of the UK once they are up and running.

Education Minister Liz Truss named Harrogate Grammar School, Outwood Grange Academies Trust in Wakefield, Sheffield’s Notre Dame High School and Trinity Academy, Halifax among the 32 who will be first in England to take part in the £11million scheme.

Online lesson plans to allow teachers to share best practice, ‘effective’ use of textbooks and promotion of a deeper understanding of the subject form part of the strategy. Later this year, 50 teachers from Shanghai will go into schools to teach pupils and run masterclasses for other teachers.

Ms Truss said: “There is no reason why children in England cannot achieve the same standards in maths as those in Japan, Singapore and China. We put in more resources in England than in these countries.

“We must learn from the systematic practice of these high achieving countries, who are constantly seeking to improve.

It is hoped the scheme will narrow the gap between Asian youngsters and English pupils, who are estimated to be around two to three years behind their peers overseas the age of 15. The hubs will also support an existing campaign which aims to increase the number of students taking maths and physics A level by 50 per cent over the next three years.

In Sheffield, Notre Dame High School will lead the Hallam Teaching School Alliance that will support up to 600 other schools in the region.

Paul Haigh, director of the alliance, said: “We see improvements in maths teaching as a huge challenge that needs to be met to ensure our education system rivals the best in the world and our economy is strong for the future.”