How many have you seen about the results of the maths acceleration trial?
The trial was for Year 7 and 8 students who needed extra support in maths. So it was about helping 1,500 students who were at risk of failing. They were a year behind where they should be. They received targeted, small-group tutoring up to four times a week over 12 weeks. The tutoring was in-person, hybrid or online.
The gain in maths ability was:In-person:
The gain in maths ability was:In-person:
- Two years (yes, years!)
- Hybrid: 14 months
- Online: 12 months
Now you might say they we can’t afford to do small group tutoring for every pupil who is falling behind. Well the news is even better.
The biggest breakthrough was for the students who were working in their usual classes with their teacher. These students were not part of the first 12-week trial but were benefiting from hour-a-day maths, the new curriculum, and new workbooks. They made, on average, a full year’s progress in just 12 weeks. That shows the reforms are lifting achievement for all children, not just those receiving additional tutoring.”
What a change a new curriculum, new workbooks and a minimum time allocation can make.
I don’t think anything is more important to New Zealand than Erica Stanford getting the time to bed in and complete her education reforms. Our kids deserve nothing less.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
1 comment:
RE: “ Where are the 30 minute TV specials interviewing parents of kids in the trials, talking about what a difference they have made?”
I lived in Texas for a while many years ago. The local news was full of just such interviews of kids and their parents, with at least one interview each day. It created a terrific community spirit. Everyone saw the kids on tv in the evening and then went to work in the morning saying ‘Hey, I saw your son/daughter on the news last night. He/she is fantastic!’ And with the bigger kids, you’d meet them behind the register in Target or the grocery store, and you’d get to chat with them directly, asking them more, telling them how impressive they are. ‘Weren’t you on tv the other day? You’re doing great. My whole family was watching. We’re cheering for you.’
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