BBC News Online: Education

Countdown to year of numbers

Tony Blair went with the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, and TV presenter and maths graduate Carol Vorderman to see a class of eight-year-olds during their numeracy hour at Southfield Junior School in Luton, Bedfordshire.

The children demonstrated counting forwards and backwards in units of 10.

Mr Blair revealed the logo for Maths Year 2000 and challenged schools to enter a competition to come up with a name for the 'building blocks' mascot it features, which is supposed to illustrate Pythagoras's Theorem.

The numeracy hour - part of a national strategy to improve the maths abilities of children in England - is being taught in about 70% of primary schools, according to the Department for Education. It is due to be implemented everywhere in January - hence the campaign.

The Prime Minister claimed the system was an improvement on current teaching methods.

"When I was a kid we learned everything by rote but children now have to go through the process in order to get things right," he said.

"I think that is the fantastic thing about this programme."

A typical 45 to 60-minute lesson in Years 1 to 6 is supposed to start with five or ten minutes of oral work and mental arithmetic, during which the whole class work together with the teacher.

They might play an interactive number game - perhaps coming up with 'a number one less than a multiple of five' or 'a calculation with the answer 12'.

They then spend half an hour to 40 minutes on the main teaching activity of the day - learning a new topic or doing more work on something they have done already, developing the correct vocabulary and notation, using concepts and skills.

This can be done as a whole class but it is more likely the children will be working in small groups or on their own.

Teachers are told to make clear to the class what they will do, how long it should take, and what they need to prepare for the final session.

At the end, the class comes back together for 10 or 15 minutes to go over what they have been doing. Teachers summarise the key points, make links to other work and perhaps set homework.

'Important job skill'

Mr Blunkett said maths formed a very important part of our daily lives.

"We are surrounded by figures all the time from counting our change at the shops to working out the score on a computer game," he said.

"However, many people readily admit they are poor at maths - and I'm sorry to say, are almost proud to say so.

"Maths does matter, and poor numeracy has been found to be more of a problem than poor literacy in staying in employment.

"Maths Year 2000 will encourage people of all ages to think positively about numbers. During the year we will be working with businesses, schools, local education authorities, museums, the media and other organisations to show how important maths is to everyday life, and how it can be fun too."

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