BALLS ANNOUNCES EDUCATION REVIEW

Mr Balls announced a major inquiry into the way children are taught maths amid concern that too many youngsters leave school unable to add up properly.

And he promised a new crackdown on bad behaviour, with schools facing repeated visits from inspectors if teachers cannot control their pupils in class.

But over the next four months the priority will be to consult parents, teachers, universities and school pupils and draw up a new 10-year Government plan for children.

"Our task in the next decade is for our education system to become world class," he said. "We need to transform national aspirations and expectations for the school system so that we can continue to raise standards year on year."

He continued: "In the coming weeks, we will launch a nationwide consultation to draw up a Children's Plan for our country."

Mr Balls told MPs that it was time to review the way children are taught maths at nursery and primary school. The decision follows mounting concern from employers over the standards of basic literacy and numeracy among school leavers. By the time teenagers take their GCSEs, fewer than half of all pupils in England get five C grades in subjects including both maths and English. And one in four children leaves primary school with a weak grasp of the basics.

Mr Balls said: "A child who cannot read, cannot write or cannot master basic maths will never succeed in education. So we will renew our focus on the things that really matter to parents and meet their rising aspirations. And that means getting the basics right."

The review of primary and early years mathematics teaching will be led by Sir Peter Williams, chair of the Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education, based at the Royal Society.

Mr Balls said the Williams Review would focus on effective methods of teaching and the development support for pupils falling behind in primary school. It will also advise on "how to develop pupils' deeper understanding of maths".