The Borough's initiative follows concerns about low levels of attainment in mathematics, with a longer tail of low attainment than in most continental countries, particularly Switzerland, and the conclusion that average British young people should have access to the same standards in mathematics as those achieved by average Swiss pupils. The project is funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, one of the Sainsbury family charities. Teachers ensure that as many pupils as possible reach this level, helping slower learners to catch up. Considerable emphasis is put on participative whole-class teaching. Led by teachers, pupils typically spend 30 minutes of a 45 minute lesson answering and posing questions, discussing, explaining and demonstrating to the rest of the class.
Mental arithmetic is a very important part of the work.
The Authority's Inspection and Advisory Service designed a programme to take the key points of continental practice and develop these within the National Curriculum mathematics framework. This was extended to include all Year 4 and 5 pupils in those schools, about 850 pupils, from Autumn 1995. The project concentrates on number work, covered for five or six weeks a term, allowing other National Curriculum mathematics aspects to be covered in the remaining time. Education Committee members received a detailed presentation on the project from Graham Last, Senior Inspector, who explained that teachers have welcomed the materials provided and are becoming adept at improving and amending them to suit their classes. Initial findings indicate gains in pupils' performance across the ability range.