Norfolk MP Welcomes New School Proposal

12 June 2012, 09:18 | Updated: 12 June 2012, 09:39

A Norfolk MP has today welcomed the Government's proposal to change the primary school curriculum.

South West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss, has been pressing the Government on the current maths curriculum - calling for the removal of calculator tests at primary school.

The present National Curriculum has a section on “Calculator Methods” for children aged between 8 and 11. Elizabeth has been pressing the government to see this removed and for the Key Stage 2 SATs in maths made calculator free. 

“I have become increasingly concerned by the widespread use of calculators in primary schools before children have even learnt the basics,” she said.

“We should be equipping our children with strong mental arithmetic first.”

The Government’s proposed changes to the curriculum include a statement that calculators should not be used as a substitute for poor maths skills.

It also hopes that the new changes will mean that pupils are able to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions in primary school and do long division.

“Businesses in South West Norfolk tell me about candidates for job interviews who lack the basic ability to do sums,” she added.

“The proposed changes will provide our young people with the appropriate maths skills that will prove vital to their future career prospects.”

The UK is currently 28^th in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) international tables of performance.