Govt calls for return of multiplication tables for young pupils

Generations of older people in England were drilled almost daily in their math lessons to learn by heart their 'times' tables'. Computers, calculators and changes in teaching methods saw an end to the tradition.

But it emerged on Sunday that the times tables are on the way back to schools across England, described by some social commentators as a "war on innumeracy".

The Department for Education announced plans on Sunday to start a pilot scheme this summer in 80 junior schools, with around 3,000 students to be taught how to memorize their times tables. The scheme will be rolled out across the country over the following year.