Responding to new statistics on the multiplication tables check, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Pupils and teachers work incredibly hard to master times-tables and they deserve our congratulations.

“While we maintain that this test is unnecessary,  it appears following the curriculum and assessment review that it is here to stay, at least for the near future.

“Given that, it’s important that changes are made to improve the accessibility of the test. We have consistently raised concerns that its timed nature and focus on memorisation puts some children, including pupils with certain types of special educational needs (SEND), at a disadvantage.

“We were therefore pleased that the curriculum review called for improvements to access arrangements for this test for children with SEND. Although the government says it will work with the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) on ‘minimising unintended impacts’ it is disappointing that it appears to have ruled out flexibility on the timed nature of the exercise.

“The truth is that some pupils may be able to come up with the right answers, but may need a bit longer than their peers, and they should not be penalised for that.”