Scotland slipping in maths and science rankings

The Scottish National Party have sought to alleviate fears over the grim findings of a recent international survey of mathematics and science teaching in Scottish schools.

The report, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, paints a negative picture of teacher and pupil performance across the studies – with Latvia and Kazakhstan ranking above Scotland.

The report focuses on the performance of pupils in maths and science across their fifth year of primary education and second year of secondary school. Using an international average of 500 points, the report focuses on the performance of 59 countries across the globe.

Notably, the report reveals Scotland’s 10-point fall in S2 maths and 16-point fall in S2 science between 2003 and 2007.

The report also shows no change between 1995 and 2007 in P5 maths, S2 maths and S2 science. Scottish pupils were amongst the youngest tested throughout the 59 countries.

The SNP have been quick to point out that the report focuses on a period prior to their administration.

However, Rhona Brankin, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, has called upon Fiona Hyslop, Education Minister, to tackle wider problems across Scottish schools: "It is totally unacceptable that fewer than half of P7 pupils are well established in reading. Ensuring primary pupils leave with good reading skills must be a priority.”

She continued: "Fiona Hyslop has shown a complete lack of leadership on improving literacy in primary schools and I call on the minister to address this issue as a matter of urgency. Pupils who fail to learn to read in primary school are at a massive educational disadvantage”, she added.

The SNP hopes that plans to revise the curriculum will provide necessary changes within the subjects. Ministers plan to bring the proposals to parliament in 2009, aiming to declutter the current system.

Dubbed the “curriculum of excellence,” changes to the education system will focus mainly on modernisation and a tighter linking across disciplines. Any changes to the current framework, however, are likely to bring further upheaval to many already stretched schools.

Although a large proportion of teaching staff back the SNP’s plans, there are worries the proposed curriculum may be too vague, particularly in the areas of exams and qualifications. Recent feedback from teachers has now forced government to push back any launch plans until 2010, hoping to guarantee a smooth transition.

The findings come at the same time as a study from accountancy firm KPMG which makes a link between  numeracy and quality of life.

The firm highlighted the link between poor performance in maths and increased likelihood of unemployment, reliance on the benefits system and payment of less tax. KPMG calculated a figure of £2.4bn per year to be paid by government in order to help support those who struggled with maths at school.

In an attempt to address the problem, the Every Child a Chance Trust has been established, with the aim of raising £6m to fund primary school projects. The trust plans to engage with local businesses and help develop a team of volunteers able to further help children with their studies.

John Griffith-Jones, Chairman of KPMG and the Every Child a Chance Trust, is hoping the project will help tackle the problem of innumeracy: "As a business whose people are highly numerate, it seems only right that we should help to do something about the 30,000 children who leave primary schools each year, barely able to do the simplest calculations.

"The charity has therefore devised this nationwide plan, implemented locally, and we very much hope that the business community will respond."