The National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies and the Primary Curriculum looked at the first five years of the strategies. It said the quality of teaching remained 'a crucial factor' and that 'the subject knowledge of too many headteachers and some teachers is still not good enough where literacy and mathematics are concerned'.
The report found the quality of teaching in the literacy hour and mathematics to be good in only just over half of all lessons, satisfactory in one-third and poor in about one-sixth of lessons. Ofsted chief inspector David Bell said, 'Weak subject knowledge is a consistent feature in such teaching, with teachers not knowing enough to make sure their pupils make progress.'
However, the report praised the contribution of teaching assistants for their 'important and effective role in the daily mathematics lessons and the literacy hour' and added, 'Where schools have trained them to meet pupils' needs, the schools are reluctant to use their time to reduce administrative workloads.'
It found that the introduction of the literacy and numeracy strategies 'had a considerable impact on the primary curriculum, with the positive aspects outweighing the negative'. But the report said that links between the strategies and other curriculum areas were insufficiently developed and that schools did not make the best use of foundation subjects 'as the context for enhancing pupils' development in literacy and numeracy'.
The report also found that the 'gender gap' between boys and girls was 'as marked as ever'. Girls did better than boys in English at Key Stages 1 and 2 and in mathematics at Key Stage 1 at level 2 and 2B, but boys did better in mathematics at level 3 at the end of Key Stage 1. The report said, 'The wide gap in their relative attainment in English at both key stages continues to be a cause for concern, despite boys' good performance at the higher levels in mathematics.'
The report warned that the Government's targets for 2004 - that 85 per cent of 11-year-olds reach level 4 in English and mathematics and 35 per cent reach level 5 in both subjects - were unlikely to be met by 2006.
The National Association of Head Teachers called for the Government to give more funding to primary schools, or else it did not stand 'a cat in hell's chance of delivering its broad and balanced strategy for all schools, let alone its targets for achievements by 11-year-olds, unless it starts investing properly in primary education'.
Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of NASUWT, said Mr Bell's comments 'will do little to boost teacher morale or improve retention within the profession'. He added, 'Where there are problems it is quite clear that extra resources should be deployed to help schools and teachers.'
