Standards in Mathematics in Years 2 and 6: A 9 year cross-sectional study

Abstract

The National Curriculum was introduced into British primary schools in 1989 to raise standards of attainment, especially in the basic skills. What has been the effect of these measures on children's mathematical attainments? This paper analyses the mathematics standards of nine cohorts of Year 2 and Year 6 children from five randomly selected primary schools within one Local Education Authority (LEA) (n = 1740 and 1663) who had all done Mathematics 7 or Mathematics 11 from 1989-1997. Examination of the means of the standardised mathematics scores for each cohort reveals evidence of stable standards in attainment over the 9 years. In both age groups there are fewer over-achievers than one would expect and this indicates that fewer children in this sample are doing really well than was the case when the test was standardised. The available national test results of this sample indicate rising standards at KS1 and KS2. The results are discussed with reference to both the content of the tests in the light of the mathematics programme of study and other research findings on primary mathematical standards.