Maths doesn't add up for parents

In a survey of 1,000 UK parents of children aged between six and 11, 79 per cent admitted that trying to help their children with maths homework led to conflict and argument.

A third of the parents avoided helping with the subject altogether, while 41 per cent were unable to provide the correct answer to a question that a 10-year-old might be expected to solve in a national test.

The survey, commissioned by publishers Random House Group, showed more than half of parents were unable to explain the terms "The Grid Method" and "Number Bonds", modern mathematical techniques taught in primary schools.

The findings were released to coincide with the publication of Maths for Mums and Dads, a book explaining modern maths teaching to parents.