England gets tough on times tables for school children

Children in UK will have to learn mathematics more vigorously and by heart their times tables before leaving primary schools under a new tough government plan aimed to enhance educational excellence in the country.
Pupils aged 11 will be expected to know their tables up to 12x12 and will be tested using a new "on-screen check".
The UK government wants every pupil to be able to read a novel by the age of 11 and to write a short story with accurate punctuation, spelling and grammar as part of a more result-oriented curriculum.
UK education secretary Nicky Morgan said maths was a non-negotiable aspect of good education.

"Maths is non-negotiable of a good education. As part of our commitment to extend opportunity and deliver educational excellence everywhere we are introducing a new check to ensure that all pupils know their times tables by age 11," Morgan said.
"They will help teachers recognise those pupils at risk of falling behind and allow us to target those areas where children aren't being given a fair shot to succeed," she said.

The checks will be piloted with about 3,000 pupils in 80 primary schools later this year, before being rolled out across the country in 2017.
The "on-screen check" examination will involve children completing multiplication challenges against the clock, which will be scored instantly.

The Department for Education says it marks the first use of on-screen technology in the country's National Curriculum tests.