Mathematics: Secondary Education

Mr. Willetts
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of mathematics lessons in mainstream maintained secondary schools is observed by Ofsted, broken down by school year group.

Jim Knight
This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Library.

Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 28 March, 2007:

Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.

You asked what proportion of mathematics lessons in mainstream maintained secondary schools is observed by Ofsted, broken down by separate school year group.

The number of mathematics lessons that take place in schools nationally is unknown and therefore the proportion observed by Ofsted cannot be calculated. I am able to report that one in seven lessons observed by inspectors in mainstream secondary schools in 2005/06 was a mathematics lesson. The details are broken down by year group in the table beneath.

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|Year group|Percentage|
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|7         |14        |
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|8         |15        |
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|9         |14        |
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|10        |14        |
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|11        |15        |
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|12        |8         |
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|13        |9         |
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|All       |14        |
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A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.