Foreword by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment

I am delighted at the publication of the first primary school performance tables.

Raising standards in schools is the Government's highest priority. Performance tables play a vital part in raising standards. That is why we have published similar performance tables for secondary schools for five years. They are widely consulted, and I am convinced that primary tables will be equally successful in providing useful information to parents and schools.

These tables show the percentage of pupils in each school who have reached Level 4 and above in English, mathematics and science. Level 4 means the level of achievement of a typical 11 year old at the end of Key Stage 2.

The results cover test results and assessments by teachers. In addition to these performance tables the Government is introducing legislation to make each school set and publish targets for pupil performance. These will help schools and parents to judge schools' progress in future.

If you have a child at primary school, or are beginning to think about the primary school you would like your child to attend, I hope you will take time to look at these tables. You may also wish to talk to the headteacher of your local school about the results.

The performance tables are, of course, only one source of information about the achievements of schools. Three other key documents with more detail are individual school prospectuses, governors' annual reports and inspection reports by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). You can get copies of these from the school, details of which (including address and telephone number) are contained in the tables.

The tables are also available as booklets, one for each local education authority. You can obtain copies of these by ringing 0800 24 23 22. Copies of the secondary school and school and college (16-18) performance tables are also available from this number. You can also use this number to order full sets of these tables on electronic disk, covering England as a whole.

Rt Hon Gillian Shephard MP

Secretary of State for Education and Employment