Fears have been raised that falling maths standards could be “systemic” across schools in Moray.
Reports from four primary schools detailing the educational experience in classrooms were presented to yesterday’s meeting of the council’s children and young people’s committee.
All reported a decrease in numeracy skills between P3 and P6 at Hopeman, Burghead, Hythehill and St Gerardine primary schools.
The pattern in general maths prompted questions about whether the subject was being taught properly to pupils.
Elgin City North councillor Mike Shand, a former teacher, said: “Something is happening in our primary schools. It’s quite concerning.
“If it was only one school I might think it was just a teacher or a group of teachers but it seems to be happening in a number of schools.”
Committee chairwoman Anne Skene agreed the reports were a “huge concern” and said the problem was replicated elsewhere in Moray.
Education staff at the authority have already scheduled a training day in May with staff to improve literacy and numeracy teaching.
However, senior officers stressed the issue was being replicated across Scotland and was not confined to Moray.
Head of schools and curriculum, Vivienne Cross, said: “In the national statistics there is a decline in numeracy levels.
“When similarities come up in reports we target our work in that area. In the majority of schools there is not a clear understanding of curriculum rationale.”
The reports also highlighted mental arithmetic and reading skills in the four schools remained consistent with the Moray average.