The most prominent influence on a child‘s math achievement is parents

New research published today by the University of Sussex shows that parental influence has a far greater impact on a child's maths performance than any factor related to the school environment.

Psychologists at the University of Sussex found that parents' own academic ability and their relationship with their children was a stronger predictor of achievement than students' feelings about the school or individual teachers.

The finding that a positive school climate, good teacher-student relationships or exceptional teacher characteristic did not have a strong effect on improving students' mathematical ability surprised the researchers.

Danielle Evans, lead author of the University of Sussex Mathematics Achievement Researchers, said: "This series of studies shows that parental influence is one of the most important predictors of pupils' mathematics achievement, but it does not deny the importance of schools and teachers. Teachers need to create positive and fair teaching environments, especially at a secondary school level."

The study, the third in a series of papers published by the Royal Society, sheds light on the most important predictors of maths achievement in primary and secondary education and shows that the indicator is statistically significant.