South Yorkshire primary school pupils to sit times tables check

Nick Gibb MP said multiplication is a 'very important' part of a child's maths knowledge, and plans for a test were part of the Conservatives' election manifesto in 2015.

Proposals to test 11-year-olds in England on their times tables from this year were first announced by then education secretary Nicky Morgan in January 2016.

But the move was later put on hold after the current Secretary of State Justine Greening said that there would be no new national tests or assessments introduced before the 2018/19 academic year.

Giving evidence to the Commons education select committee, Mr Gibb confirmed that the check will go ahead.

Asked about times tables tests, he said: "I think it is an issue of policy. It is my view that there should be a multiplication check.

"It was in our manifesto in 2015. We think times tables are a very important part of mathematical knowledge."

He went on to say that if a youngster is trying to perform long multiplication or long division they need to know their times tables.

"It's why it was in our manifesto," Mr Gibb said. "It's why we are introducing a multiplication check in 2018/19."