Posted on Wednesday 6th Jul 2016
Almost half of pupils in England have failed to meet a new tough standard in reading, writing and mathematics.
Official data shows just over half (53%) of 11-year-olds made the grade in reading, writing and mathematics.
This means 47% of pupils are considered not to have made the grade in the 3 Rs by the end of their primary years.
Last year 80% met the required standard in reading, writing and maths - but that was under a system which was dropped this year.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says lower results should not be interpreted as a decline in performance by pupils.
This year's tests were more demanding and were based on a new curriculum.
Department for Education statistics show:
66% of pupils met the standard in reading
70% in maths
72% in grammar, punctuation and spelling
74% in the teacher-assessed writing
The overall figure of 53% relates to the number of pupils who reached the expected standard in all three subjects.
Previously, attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 was measured in Levels - Level 4c being the expected standard for pupils in their final year of primary school.
However, in the new tests, the expected level is set at 100 but scores can range between 80 and 120 - this means that anything at 100 or over is, in effect, a pass and anything under is a fail.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
28/04/25Kent County Council Election 2025: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - the big debate
Kent County Council Election 2025: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities - the big debate Making such provision work will fall to whichever party takes the reins at Kent County Council (KCC) after the elections on May 1.
11/04/25Leave school phone bans to head teachers, children's commissioner says
Banning phones in schools should be a decision for head teachers and not "imposed nationally by the government", England's children's commissioner has said.
24/03/25Ex-Ofsted boss says education secretary wants 'to please unions'
The former head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, has criticised the education secretary and accused her of giving "a great deal of time and attention" to the teaching unions. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Ms Spielman claims "effective reforms are being reversed" - referring to potential changes to academy schools' powers.
20/03/25Childcare costs fall for the first time in 15 years – but nurseries are worried
Annual nursery costs for a child under two in England have fallen for the first time in 15 years, according to the children's charity Coram. It comes as the government continues to roll out its funded childcare scheme, which will provide all eligible working parents of pre-school children, not only three and four-year-olds as currently, with 30 hours of childcare per week from September. However, some nurseries and childminders say they may have to drop out of the scheme as government funding struggles to meet rising costs, including National Insurance increases from April.
17/03/25Poorest children missing more school and further behind after Covid
The poorest children are missing more school and falling further behind classmates, research shared with the BBC suggests. According to new analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) - which looked at pupil performance after the Covid-19 pandemic - children from the lowest income families are now up to 19 months behind peers by the time they are 16 years old.
News Archive