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Trial of Chinese-style maths lessons in English schools to be expanded Trial of Chinese-style maths lessons in English schools to be expanded
(14 days later)
A controversial government experiment introducing Chinese-style maths lessons in English schools looks set to expand after being hailed by a minister as one of the most successful things the Department for Education has done.A controversial government experiment introducing Chinese-style maths lessons in English schools looks set to expand after being hailed by a minister as one of the most successful things the Department for Education has done.
Schools minister Nick Gibb, who is hoping to fly out to Shanghai in February to learn more about Chinese teaching methods, described the results of the pioneering experiment as incredible, with less-able children faring particularly well.Schools minister Nick Gibb, who is hoping to fly out to Shanghai in February to learn more about Chinese teaching methods, described the results of the pioneering experiment as incredible, with less-able children faring particularly well.
A group of secondary school teachers from a selection of English schools is preparing to travel to Shanghai next month, following an earlier visit by primary school teachers who watched Chinese teachers in action.A group of secondary school teachers from a selection of English schools is preparing to travel to Shanghai next month, following an earlier visit by primary school teachers who watched Chinese teachers in action.
“When that’s brought to England and the approach has been tried in English schools, it’s been hugely successful,” said Gibb. “Teachers have been pleasantly surprised by how much some of the less-able children are achieving in maths as a consequence of this approach.”“When that’s brought to England and the approach has been tried in English schools, it’s been hugely successful,” said Gibb. “Teachers have been pleasantly surprised by how much some of the less-able children are achieving in maths as a consequence of this approach.”
Shanghai teachers use a whole-class, “mastery” approach, which involves teaching children of all ability every minute step of a calculation. Thirty Chinese teachers have also been flown to the UK to demonstrate their technique in English primary school classrooms.Shanghai teachers use a whole-class, “mastery” approach, which involves teaching children of all ability every minute step of a calculation. Thirty Chinese teachers have also been flown to the UK to demonstrate their technique in English primary school classrooms.
The minister described seeing a Chinese teacher in a Harris academy devote an entire lesson to how to multiply two double digit figures ending in zero. “I walked around the classroom and all the children were understanding what was happening and could perform the calculation,” he said.The minister described seeing a Chinese teacher in a Harris academy devote an entire lesson to how to multiply two double digit figures ending in zero. “I walked around the classroom and all the children were understanding what was happening and could perform the calculation,” he said.
“We have a lot to learn from the approach they are taking in cities like Shanghai. We want to do more of that in years ahead.”“We have a lot to learn from the approach they are taking in cities like Shanghai. We want to do more of that in years ahead.”
Related: Science education, Chinese style | Letters
He added: “I go to so many schools and I see these children struggling with basic arithmetic and they don’t need to. It’s not string theory.”He added: “I go to so many schools and I see these children struggling with basic arithmetic and they don’t need to. It’s not string theory.”
The minister was speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the universities’ admissions service, Ucas, on the eve of A-level national results day.The minister was speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the universities’ admissions service, Ucas, on the eve of A-level national results day.
In an interview with the Guardian, Gibb defended the rigour of this year’s exams but confirmed he has asked DfE officials to draw up long-term plans to further reform the current system. This could include scrapping the independent exam boards which currently compete for the £300m school exams market, setting rival A-level and GCSE papers.In an interview with the Guardian, Gibb defended the rigour of this year’s exams but confirmed he has asked DfE officials to draw up long-term plans to further reform the current system. This could include scrapping the independent exam boards which currently compete for the £300m school exams market, setting rival A-level and GCSE papers.
“The idea of having a system that’s pushing awarding organisations to try to compete for the schools’ market share, not on the basis of price or service delivery, but sometimes on how easy it is to achieve a high grade, does seem to me to be perverse.”“The idea of having a system that’s pushing awarding organisations to try to compete for the schools’ market share, not on the basis of price or service delivery, but sometimes on how easy it is to achieve a high grade, does seem to me to be perverse.”
He said both he and the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, wanted a period of stability over this parliament to allow other exam reforms to bed down, but warned that no education system in the world could remain static.He said both he and the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, wanted a period of stability over this parliament to allow other exam reforms to bed down, but warned that no education system in the world could remain static.
“We are living in a very competitive, fast-moving global economy and for our school leavers to remain competitive in that market, we need to ensure that we are continually improving our education system.”“We are living in a very competitive, fast-moving global economy and for our school leavers to remain competitive in that market, we need to ensure that we are continually improving our education system.”
Part of that involved learning from “the best in the world”, he said, in particular Shanghai, which scores top in maths in the international Pisa tests. “We don’t apologise for making sure we are always monitoring best practice from around the world.”Part of that involved learning from “the best in the world”, he said, in particular Shanghai, which scores top in maths in the international Pisa tests. “We don’t apologise for making sure we are always monitoring best practice from around the world.”
The minister’s comments about Chinese teaching came the day after the BBC showed the second of its TV series Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School which has shown Chinese teachers struggling to control English children, and UK teachers less than complimentary about Chinese methods.The minister’s comments about Chinese teaching came the day after the BBC showed the second of its TV series Are Our Kids Tough Enough? Chinese School which has shown Chinese teachers struggling to control English children, and UK teachers less than complimentary about Chinese methods.
“I’ve recorded it. I’m going to watch it at the weekend,” Gibb said, adding: “It’s an entertainment programme. It’s not a scientific study.”“I’ve recorded it. I’m going to watch it at the weekend,” Gibb said, adding: “It’s an entertainment programme. It’s not a scientific study.”
Early research into the effectiveness of the Shanghai mastery approach in an English context indicates a small improvement in children’s maths performance, but experts say it needs to be tested over a longer period in a greater number of schools to build a more complete picture, and it has many critics inside the world of education and outside.Early research into the effectiveness of the Shanghai mastery approach in an English context indicates a small improvement in children’s maths performance, but experts say it needs to be tested over a longer period in a greater number of schools to build a more complete picture, and it has many critics inside the world of education and outside.
Helpline on handHelpline on hand
During his visit to Ucas, Gibb met members of the 40-strong team of careers advisers who will be staffing an exam results helpline that is expected to receive more than 3,000 calls on results day from those who have not gained the grades they anticipated.During his visit to Ucas, Gibb met members of the 40-strong team of careers advisers who will be staffing an exam results helpline that is expected to receive more than 3,000 calls on results day from those who have not gained the grades they anticipated.
The government-funded phone line (0808 100 8000) opens at 8am and will continue until 24 August to cover GCSE results next Thursday, offering advice not just on university choices but also resits, remarks, apprenticeships, gap years, student finance and job options.The government-funded phone line (0808 100 8000) opens at 8am and will continue until 24 August to cover GCSE results next Thursday, offering advice not just on university choices but also resits, remarks, apprenticeships, gap years, student finance and job options.
Jenny Chung, 19, is studying international business management at Oxford Brookes University after calling the helpline last year when she got lower A-level grades than predicted. She was expecting AAB but achieved BBC and lost out on both her firm and insurance university offers.Jenny Chung, 19, is studying international business management at Oxford Brookes University after calling the helpline last year when she got lower A-level grades than predicted. She was expecting AAB but achieved BBC and lost out on both her firm and insurance university offers.
“When I first received my results I was obviously fairly stressed and weepy, but after the tears had dried up something seemed to click in my head.” She called the helpline to discuss her options and decided to apply for an alternative place through clearing, which matches unplaced applicants with suitable vacancies.“When I first received my results I was obviously fairly stressed and weepy, but after the tears had dried up something seemed to click in my head.” She called the helpline to discuss her options and decided to apply for an alternative place through clearing, which matches unplaced applicants with suitable vacancies.
“Having another perspective was an extremely vital lifeline, particularly for someone like myself who didn’t want to face having to go back to my teachers, and felt too confused listening to the advice from my parents.”“Having another perspective was an extremely vital lifeline, particularly for someone like myself who didn’t want to face having to go back to my teachers, and felt too confused listening to the advice from my parents.”
A record one in 10 students were placed through clearing last year. Of the 30% of students who miss out on their first choice, two thirds still get a university place – half through their insurance choice and half through clearing.A record one in 10 students were placed through clearing last year. Of the 30% of students who miss out on their first choice, two thirds still get a university place – half through their insurance choice and half through clearing.
The minister said: “It can be a stressful time for young people, so it is vital that they can have high-quality advice on the end of a phone line to help them make informed choices.The minister said: “It can be a stressful time for young people, so it is vital that they can have high-quality advice on the end of a phone line to help them make informed choices.
“Whether young people are going to university, starting an apprenticeship or starting a job we want to help them take that next step into adult life.”“Whether young people are going to university, starting an apprenticeship or starting a job we want to help them take that next step into adult life.”
Mary Curnock Cook, the Ucas chief executive, said she was expecting a busy confirmation and clearing process but was not anticipating problems following the lifting of the cap on numbers admitted to universities. “Most universities will have some courses with vacancies so there will be plenty of choice for students.”Mary Curnock Cook, the Ucas chief executive, said she was expecting a busy confirmation and clearing process but was not anticipating problems following the lifting of the cap on numbers admitted to universities. “Most universities will have some courses with vacancies so there will be plenty of choice for students.”
She also highlighted the growing shortage of men at university: “One statistic that I’m particularly interested in this year is how many men are off to university. The equivalent of 32,000 young men are missing from our university campuses as young women are on average a third more likely to go on to higher education.She also highlighted the growing shortage of men at university: “One statistic that I’m particularly interested in this year is how many men are off to university. The equivalent of 32,000 young men are missing from our university campuses as young women are on average a third more likely to go on to higher education.
“Young women are powering much of the improvement in demand for HE from disadvantaged groups, so tackling the lower progression overall by men would also do much to accelerate improvements in the gap between rich and poor.”“Young women are powering much of the improvement in demand for HE from disadvantaged groups, so tackling the lower progression overall by men would also do much to accelerate improvements in the gap between rich and poor.”