PRIMARY school pupils in Barnsley are some of the highest-achieving in the country in a national multiplication and times tables test - and topped the charts in Yorkshire.
Newly-released Department for Education (DfE) data has shown that Barnsley is the 12th highest-scoring local authority when it comes to primary school pupils’ achievements in a standardised multiplication test.
Scores are based on the aggregate results of a test all year four pupils take, where they are asked 25 questions on times tables up to 12x12 and have six seconds to answer.
The borough took an impressive spot on the national list, with an average attainment score of 21.7 and with only two per cent of pupils working below national curriculum expectations.
These results stand above the national average score of 20.6 - a 0.5 increase on last year - and saw the borough ranking above areas like Kensington and Chelsea with 21.4 and Sheffield which only scored 19.9 and saw four per cent of pupils fall below curriculum expectations.
While boroughs in London remain on top - with Richmond-upon-Thames being the highest achievers with a score of 22.4 - Barnsley’s success has seen it tying for the top spot with York in Yorkshire and the Humber region and is to be even more impressive considering the area’s economic make-up.
On average, disadvantaged pupils - who are defined as those who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years and make-up around 29 per cent of children in Barnsley - score significantly worse than those who aren’t known to be.
However, schools in Barnsley have managed to thin the divide, with disadvantaged youngsters scoring 20.3, much higher than the national average of 18.5.
Tom Banham, chief executive of HCAT - a Barnsley-based education trust - said: “It’s fantastic to see Barnsley schools performing so highly in the multiplication times table check.
“When you look at the other local authorities that are inline with it does show how well we have done.
“Times tables are such an important skill to learn and give a fantastic foundation of maths for children to build upon.
“The Barnsley Schools’ Alliance, through the council, has provided significant funding once again to provide professional development to teachers and support staff on how to effectively teach timetables and this is undoubtedly paying off.”
The borough also came third in a similar phonics test taken by year one pupils, with youngsters averagely getting 87 per cent right in the 40 question exam.
Alison Wilkes, co-head of King’s Oak Primary in Wombwell - which is one of the most successful in teaching multiplication in Barnsley - said that it’s a ‘great achievement for Barnsley’.
“I honestly just think it’s fantastic”, she added.
“It’s not just thanks to the great work of our staff and teachers, but the positive attitude of pupils and parents to engage with us.
“There’s been a push from the school, but also the local authority who’ve been there from early on and put on training for how times tables should be taught.
“We make it fun for the kids to learn - it’s just a massive achievement because once they’ve got that knowledge they can apply it to anything really, whether it’s tests, GCSEs or real life.”
