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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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Teaching unions respond to calls for improvement in maths skills

The NAHT Cymru union has responded to concerns from education watchdog Estyn over the maths skills of Welsh pupils.

Acting director Dr Christopher Howard accuses the Welsh Government of trying to "shift the blame" for poor performance onto schools.

Welsh Government has known that mathematical skills were comparatively poor for many years. It is pretty rich for Mr Lewis to demand urgency now from schools when the government dilly dallied for years.

The Welsh Government has paid little or no regard to the need to recruit high quality graduates or the need to include a stronger focus on mathematics in initial teacher training for primary trainees.

– Dr Christopher Howard, NAHT Cymru

More: Welsh Government drops top 20 PISA target

NUT Cymru says schools "have been inundated with policy changes by the Welsh Government" in recent years.

You cannot expect new initiatives to be introduced effectively unless there is high quality and properly resourced training and professional development to accompany it.

That is something the Welsh Government, local authorities and regional consortia will no doubt wish to reflect upon.

– Owen Hathway, NUT Cymru
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Numeracy skills 'weak' in over half of Welsh schools

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