Are English and Maths Doomed In Schools Cut Back?

Maths and English, the two stalwarts in our educational programmes are the subject of further games being played between the DCFS, schools and examining boards. The chief executive of the Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) awarding body says that without a vast injection of cash and teacher training schools will struggle to teach Math and English to the standard needed.

The comment from Greg Watson, chief executive of the Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) awarding body, has ideal timing if maths and English are to escape the proposed cutbacks of £2bn in the schools budget. The bigger problem is rather than defending the current level of expenditure he is asking for an injection of cash above the current spending. If Ed Balls has to find savings as part of the government need to cut back will these vital teaching resources be found or become the sacrificial lamb? If so our current record of sub standard primary education is about to get a lot worse. Nicola Woolcote