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Numeracy skills 'weak' in over half of Welsh schools

Pupils' numeracy skills are still weak in more than half of primary and secondary schools in Wales inspected by Estyn in the last year.

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Numeracy skills 'weak' in over half of Welsh schools

Pupils' numeracy skills are still weak in more than half of primary and secondary schools in Wales inspected by Estyn in the last year.

The education watchdog has released the second in a series of three reports on key mathematics skills among 7 to 14-year-old children, and the quality of their teaching.

The education watchdog has criticised the standards of numeracy teaching in Wales. Credit: PA

Estyn has found some pupils struggling with skills like division and percentages - as only around half of schools have suitable provision for numeracy.

The Welsh Government has made it a priority in recent years - with annual testing and the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework designed to get key maths skills into other lessons across the curriculum.

It is pleasing to note the progress made by around half of the schools we inspected. However, it is important to emphasise that there is still a long way to go before schools make a full and consistent impact on improving the standards of pupils' numeracy skills.

There are still too many pupils who lack confidence in key aspects of mathematics, such as division and working with percentages.

Staff need more support to widen their knowledge and understanding of strategies to help pupils to use numeracy across the curriculum.

– Ann Keane, Chief Inspector, Estyn
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Numeracy skills 'weak' in over half of Welsh schools

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