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High Standards Maintained But More Work To Do
Dated: 27/08/2008
High Standards Maintained But More Work To Do
Key Stage 1 assessment results published today show that standards continue to be maintained with nine out of ten children achieving the expected level 2 or higher in mathematics and 84% reaching the expected level or higher in reading.
But Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan warned against complacency and said that a continued effort is needed to drive up standards further. He said that more must be done to ensure all children secure good levels of early literacy and numeracy so they get the best out of the later years of primary school.
Today’s statistics show:
- 90 per cent of seven year olds are reaching the expected level 2 or higher in mathematics, the same as last year, and a six percentage point (ppt) increase since 1997;
- reading results at level 2+ remain constant at 84 per cent of children reaching the expected level 2 or above;
- writing results remain the same, with 80 per cent of children reaching the expected level 2 or above;
- 89 per cent of pupils are now achieving the expected level 2 or above in science; a 4ppt increase since 1997;
- 1 ppt drop in all areas at the higher level 3 since last year.
Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan said:
“I congratulate schools and teachers who work hard to give children the best possible start to their education. I’m pleased that high standards continue to be maintained but I want to see year-on-year improvements. Like teachers across the country, I have high expectations for all children.
“There are no quick fixes but more can be done, especially for children who are really struggling with basic literacy and numeracy, and for those children who, with a bit of help, could reach the next level up.
“Teaching early reading through phonics is now a central feature of the primary curriculum and we are expanding the Every Child a Reader programme. Research shows it is having an incredible impact on helping those children who are really struggling and narrowing the gap between boys and girls.
“A similar programme for children having problems with basic maths begins this September and we have accepted Sir Peter Williams’ recommendation that there should be a maths specialist in every school.
“We have also asked Sir Jim Rose to review the primary curriculum to make sure teachers can really tailor education to the needs of each individual child and we are introducing a programme called Every Child a Writer for children who need extra support with writing at Key Stage 2.
“The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which begins next week in nurseries and other settings will give younger children a head start by providing good quality play-based early learning. A recent report found that there is a clear relationship between results at the foundation stage and later Key Stage 1 attainment in communication, language and literacy.
“With the EYFS, parents will be sure that their children, irrespective of the type of childcare they attend, will get the same excellent standards of learning and care.
“And parents have a big role to play; reading at home with children and rationing time spent watching TV at this crucial stage are vitally important. We have several programmes in place to support parents. Through Booktime, every four and five year old in England receives a free book pack, and our new booklist ‘Boys into books’ aimed at primary aged boys has some really exciting, fast-paced, action-adventure books that dads will enjoy just as much as their sons.“
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