The changing primary mathematics classroom: the challenge of the National Numeracy Strategy

Up until the introduction of the National Curriculum (NC), primary school teachers were largely free to choose both the content of and approaches to teaching mathematics. While the widespread use of commercial mathematics schemes meant that variation between schools may not have been as great as this freedom might suggest, with the introduction of the National Curriculum a greater degree of equality of opportunity for pupils was expected. Central to the design of the National Curriculum was the setting of attainment targets.