Unfortunately the good news in the report on maths (TES, September 26) did not gain as high a media profile as the report on maths in inner cities which found wide variations in standards achieved.
When will we stop measuring and start asking why? Is it a matter of the talent of the teachers or can changing their practice bring about improvement?
The reports note yet again that schools achieving high standards used a range of teaching methods and organisational strategies. So why not utilise the research which highlights the characteristics of these successful methods and set up training, which should be offered as a right to teachers in schools where standards fall short? Surely it’s time to move from “measure and shame” to “research and retrain”.
JOHN HOBDEN
Southery Downham Market, Norfolk
