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RECORD ACHIEVEMENTS IN ENGLISH, MATHS AND SCIENCE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND GENDER GAP NARROWING IN ENGLISH
07 August 2007
Primary school children have produced the best set of Key Stage 2 results ever with record numbers of 11 year olds reaching the expected level for their age in English, Maths and Science. Boys have continued to catch up girls with record results in English, reading and writing.
English at Level 4+ has improved by one percentage point to 80 per cent. This represents a 17 per cent increase since 1997. Mathematics has risen for the fourth year in a row by one percentage point to 77 per cent, with improvements for both boys and girls. Science at Level 4+ rose for the second year by one percentage point to 88 per cent and is now at the highest level ever. Publishing the 2007 Key Stage 2 results, Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said:“Today’s primary school children have achieved the best set of Key Stage 2 results we have ever seen, and I congratulate all pupils and teachers for their hard work and achievements.“Over the last ten years there has been substantial and sustained improvement at Key Stage 2. Compared to 1997, 100,000 more 11 year olds are achieving the target level for their age in English and 90,000 in Maths. “But there is still more to do. That is why from this September we are introducing further measures to accelerate the pace of learning. There will be a renewed emphasis on phonics in early reading teaching and in Maths, children will focus more on mental arithmetic including learning times tables one year earlier.“We will also be rolling out the Every Child a Reader programme which will provide intensive daily tuition for six year olds who are struggling with reading, as well as developing a similar programme in Maths. “The literacy hour and daily Maths lesson, now a familiar feature in every classroom, have had a real effect on improving the attainment of primary school pupils. As a result, thousands of children are achieving more and are better equipped for secondary school. We are committed to building on this through a focus on personalised learning so that all our young people can achieve the progress they are capable of and leave primary school confident in the basics.”Achieving a Level 4 at age 11 rather than a Level 3 means that children have the right numeracy and literacy skills crucial for their progress at secondary school. Figures show that of the pupils who reached Level 4 or above in English or Maths at Key Stage 2 in 2001, nearly 70 per cent went on to get 5 good A*-C grades at GCSE last summer, compared with only 11 per cent of those who didn’t reach Level 4. The Key Stage 2 results for 2007 published today also show:• nearly half of 11 year olds are achieving the higher Level 5 standard in Reading;• boys have continued to improve their performance with increases in all tested subjects. They are ahead of girls in Maths and are closing the gender gap in English;• 71 per cent of pupils achieved a Level 4 in both English and Maths, an increase of one per cent from last year;• achievement in the 3 Rs remained stable, with 60 per cent of 11 year olds reaching a Level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths, a 17 per cent increase compared to 1997; and• five London boroughs are among the 15 Local Authorities who have seen their results improve the most between 2006 and 2007.
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The Statistical First Release showing the Key Stage 2 provisional results are available at www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/whatsnew 2. The renewed Primary Framework for literacy and Mathematics was published last year. All schools have received training on the new framework, so that they can begin using it from this autumn, and many teachers have started already. The framework provides teachers with objectives and guidance that they can use to teach their daily literacy and Maths lessons. It updates the original literacy and mathematics frameworks, which were introduced in 1998 and 1999 respectively. 3. The Primary National Strategy is our main vehicle for supporting improvements in teaching and attainment. It incorporates the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, which first introduced the daily literacy and Maths lessons following the literacy and Maths frameworks. Since its inception the Strategy has provided teachers with a growing range of support including teaching materials, lesson plans, training days and in-class advice from expert consultants. These build upon and develop the Framework to incorporate the latest findings from research and best practice.4. From September 2007, 484 schools will be taking part in the Making Good Progress pilot. The pilot will trial new ways to assess, report and stimulate progress in schools, so that no child falls behind or gets stuck at any stage. It will provide 1:1 tuition outside school hours for thousands of 7-11 year olds who need extra support in English and in Mathematics. 5. The 5 London boroughs that have improved their results the most in 2007 are Islington, Camden, Barking and Dagenham, Bexley and Wandsworth.
Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2007/0145
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