2023 Results

Celebration Time!

We have recently received the national statistics for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check, which was completed by our current Year 5 children in the summer term, earlier this year.  We are delighted to announce that Chesswood secured fantastic results which were consistently significantly above national outcomes:

• The mean average score of Chesswood children was 21.1 out of 25.  This was almost 1 mark higher than National (20.2), and over 1 mark higher than the mean average for West Sussex (20) and South East (20).
• The percentage of children scoring maximum marks (25/25) was 46% at Chesswood.  This was 17% higher than National figures (29%), 18% higher than West Sussex (28%) and 19% higher than South East (27%).
• The percentage of children scoring (23+/25) was 64% at Chesswood.  This was 16% higher than National (48%), 17% higher than West Sussex and South East figures which were both 47%.
• The percentage of children scoring (20+/25) was 69% at Chesswood.  This was 7% higher than South East (62%), 10% higher than National (59%) and 11% higher than West Sussex (58%).

This is important because it shows that Chesswood children have the times table knowledge and fluency to help them become confident mathematicians and cope with more challenging calculations in upper key stage 2 and beyond. This represents hugely promising outcomes for the school and is reflective of the diligent and high-quality provision and support in Years 3 and 4 to help children learn and become secure with their times tables.  The data also shows the impact of targeted intervention within school to support acquisition of times table knowledge.  Based on data from TT Rock Stars, the school’s mean score increased by 2.6 (from 17.5) in February, whilst the % scoring 25/25 increased by 12% from 34%.  This truly is a brilliant team effort and achievement.  Congratulations to the children for being such amazing Bright Sparks!

Each participating child receives a score out of 25 for the MTC.  The mean average score at Chesswood was 21.1 out of 25 – this is higher than the mean average scores nationally, within West Sussex and all South East schools!

The most common individual score on the MTC was 25.  46% of Chesswood children scored 25 out of 25 – this is significantly higher than the national figure of 29% of children scoring 25 out of 25.

2024 Guidance

In June 2024, children in Year 4 will participate in the Multiplication tables check whilst at school.  The MTC is an on-screen check consisting of 25 times tables questions. Your child will answer 3 practice questions before moving on to the official check and will then have 6 seconds to answer each question. On average, the check should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.  The purpose of the check is to determine whether pupils can fluently recall their times tables up to 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will also help us to identify pupils who may need additional support.

We would ask that you please encourage your child to practice their times tables in little and often bursts in the lead up to this.  5-10 minutes per day, 4-5 times per week will be plenty.  Research conducted by TT Rock Stars has shown that children who regularly practice for at least 21 minutes per week, score 25/25 on the MTC.  All children have a login to TT Rock Stars — they can use Garage to practice specific tables chosen for them by their teacher and Soundcheck to help practice questions in the style of the MTC.  They can also use Jamming to help focus on specific tables and focus in on specifically multiplication or division questions.

Key School Dates for the MTC:

Date	Details
w/b Monday 2nd October	TT Rock Stars Spring Officially Unofficial MTC - to help prepare the children for the MTC experience, they will participate in a mock MTC at the start of the spring term.  This will take place in school on iPads using TT Rock Stars.  Following this, Y4 teachers will identify children in need of targeted support to help with their times table fluency and knowledge.
w/b Monday 15th January	TT Rock Stars Spring Officially Unofficial MTC - to help prepare the children for the MTC experience, they will participate in a mock MTC at the start of the spring term.  This will take place in school on iPads using TT Rock Stars.  Parents will receive further details the w/b 8th January.  Following this, Y4 teachers will identify children in need of targeted support to help with their times table fluency and knowledge.
March onwards	Children will be able to access the MTC Try It Out version in school to help them become familiar with the MTC layout.
w/b Monday 22nd April	TT Rock Stars Summer Officially Unofficial MTC - Year 4 children will participate in a second mock MTC at the start of the summer term.  This will help us to further identify children in need of targeted support and help prepare the children for the MTC.
Monday 3rd June - Friday 14th June	MTC Official Window - each Year 4 child will complete the official check in school on iPads.  The vast majority of children will sit the check in a group with 5-6 other children present.  Where appropriate, children will sit the check on their own.  All children will be supervised throughout the check.
July onwards	Your child's score out of 25 will be published as part of their annual report.  This will be shared with their Y5 teacher who will provide additional support where needed to help children who scored below 20.

Please find further information and some helpful resources to support your child preparing for this check in the table below.

Item	Link
Standards & Testing Agency - Information for parents: 2023 multiplication tables check
Top Tips for learning times tables
TT Rock Stars - Children can use Garage to work on tables set for them by their teacher and use Soundcheck to help experience questions in a similar format to the MTC.  Each child has their own login - please speak to your child's teacher if they have difficulty logging in.   Chesswood Junior School - Soundcheck Challenge.  A chance for children to earn housepoints for using Souncheck - see the poster for more details!
TT Rock Stars - How it Works Please click on the link to download a parent guide for TT Rock Stars.  If you have any further questions, please speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance.
Supermovers - Select from a collection of fun videos to help the children work on specific times tables - fun for all the family!
Chesswood Cards - Ask your teacher if you need some blank cards.	How to use Chesswood Cards A set of cards will be created for a single times table. Each card will include a calculation (1 x 2). The answer will be on the reverse (2). The set will be learned in order with three seconds to answer each calculation, checking the answer before proceeding if correct or starting again if incorrect. Once the order of questions has been mastered, the children will be able to answer the times table in any order by shuffling the cards. After this, the answers will be utilised in order to learn the associated division facts, when mastery is achieved the pack can once again be shuffled. Next, the calculations and answers can be mixed up to demonstrate true mastery of that times table. A new set of cards will then be provided to learn the next times table. Order (2, 5, 10, 3, 4, 8, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12)
Blank Multiplication Grid
Multiplication Grid with Answers

GAMES (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

Times Table	Race Game	Board Game
2	Jungle Race	Muddle Board Game
5	Space Race Jungle Race	Muddle Board Game
10	Space Race Jungle Race	Muddle Board Game
3	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
4	Jungle Race	Muddle Board Game
8	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
6	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
7	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
9	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
11	Space Race	Muddle Board Game
12		Muddle Board Game