Off to Hexham Middle School to meet the maths gurus today

This morning I am meeting kids like Elizabeth, Anisha and Amy who are key stage 3, and who wrote to me [and the Education Minister] last autumn seeking a change in the national policy on the teaching of maths - they have successfully campaigned for the return of long division. Their teacher Miss Parker is rightly very proud of her charges enterprise, ability and enthusuiasm. Later in the day I will be heading to Haltwhistle.