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| Pupils 'not performing' in maths | Pupils 'not performing' in maths |
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| Scottish pupils in the early years of secondary school are under-performing in maths and numeracy, according to a new government survey. | Scottish pupils in the early years of secondary school are under-performing in maths and numeracy, according to a new government survey. |
| An estimated 30% of second year pupils meet the expected standards or better in mathematics - compared to more than 85% for P3 pupils, it suggested. | An estimated 30% of second year pupils meet the expected standards or better in mathematics - compared to more than 85% for P3 pupils, it suggested. |
| In numeracy, more than 90% of P3 pupils meet or exceed standards, compared to 45% for those in S2. | In numeracy, more than 90% of P3 pupils meet or exceed standards, compared to 45% for those in S2. |
| The Scottish Government said it recognised the need for action. | The Scottish Government said it recognised the need for action. |
| The figures were contained in the 2008 Scottish Survey of Achievement, which looked at 40,000 pupils across 1,200 Scottish schools to give a snapshot of achievement levels. | The figures were contained in the 2008 Scottish Survey of Achievement, which looked at 40,000 pupils across 1,200 Scottish schools to give a snapshot of achievement levels. |
| 'Rigorous assessment' | 'Rigorous assessment' |
| Scottish Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop recognised there were challenges to be met, adding: "We know we must reinvigorate how maths is taught in our schools, which is why the curriculum for excellence places numeracy at the heart of learning. | Scottish Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop recognised there were challenges to be met, adding: "We know we must reinvigorate how maths is taught in our schools, which is why the curriculum for excellence places numeracy at the heart of learning. |
| "Our new curricular approach will enrich learning and teaching in maths across all age ranges, increasing understanding and improving attainment. | "Our new curricular approach will enrich learning and teaching in maths across all age ranges, increasing understanding and improving attainment. |
| "This will be reinforced by our commitment to introduce more rigorous assessment of numeracy on an ongoing basis in primary and through to secondary school." | "This will be reinforced by our commitment to introduce more rigorous assessment of numeracy on an ongoing basis in primary and through to secondary school." |
| The Scottish Government said more than 90% of pupils who left school achieved a maths qualification equivalent to a Standard Grade. | The Scottish Government said more than 90% of pupils who left school achieved a maths qualification equivalent to a Standard Grade. |
| Ronnie Smith, general secretary of Scotland's largest teaching union, the EIS, said he was "well aware" of the issues raised in the survey, while pointing out that deprivation had a major impact on pupil performance. | |
| He added: "What is most significant and encouraging is that Scottish pupils continue to achieve particularly highly in mathematics in the later years of secondary, at Standard Grade level and beyond." |