Written question asked by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Thursday, 9 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 June 2005. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 June 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Learning Methods

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what the difference is between learning by heart multiplication facts, as required by the Framework for Teaching Mathematics: Reception to Year 6 document, and learning by heart multiplication tables.

Answer: The Primary National Strategy stresses the importance of learning multiplication 'facts' (such as 8 x 7 = 56) which are bought together in multiplication tables. Acquiring these facts is a core part of children's mathematical education, and helps deepen their mathematical understanding, for example, enabling them to make the link between multiplication and division. Teaching multiplication tables can be used as a key means of ensuring that children learn multiplication facts.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4432; 435 c488-9W;435 c492-3W
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Learning Methods
Wednesday, 23 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Multiplication
Thursday, 23 June 2005
Written questions
House of Commons; Learning Methods
Wednesday, 2 November 2005
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Teaching methods Mathematics