According to the Manhattan Institute, a research group, test scores in reading and maths have remained much as they were before the two men took over, well below the national and big-city averages.

ECONOMIST: New York��s schools

"It may not be appropriate to use calculators for the whole of the maths test paper, but it is a retrograde step to ban them completely as it will diminish the skills set for primary pupils and leave them floundering in secondary school".

BBC: Government bans calculators from primary maths tests

In subjects such as English and history, the exams will test essay writing, while in maths and science there will be a greater focus on quantitative problem solving.

BBC: GCSE changes to final exams 'will disadvantage girls'

In the case of the maths scores of fourth-graders, there was a consistently negative relationship between computer use and test scores.

ECONOMIST: Not helpful

In December the OECD published the results of a test pitting teenage students around the world against each other in reading, science and maths.

ECONOMIST: The contest with China moves into the classroom and nursery