Results for seven year olds show overall high achievement
| Published: 4th September 2007 22:13 |
Today's results for seven year olds reveal that high standards have been 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.
Since 1997 results for seven year olds have shown sustained improvement, with nearly 34,000 more children now reaching the expected level 2 or above in mathematics.
Despite this overall high achievement, Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said that we must continue our efforts to drive up standards further.
Statistics show:
- 90 per cent of seven year olds are reaching the expected level or higher in mathematics, the same as last year, and a 6 percentage point increase since 1997;
- reading results at level 2+ remain constant at 84 per cent, the same as last year, but a 4ppt rise since 1997;
- there has been a fall of 1ppt in writing results since last year, but 80 per cent of children reached the expected level 2 or above;
- 89 per cent are now achieving the expected level 2 or above in science, a 4ppt increase since 1997.
Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis, said:
"I am pleased that we are maintaining high standards at this crucial stage in education with 90% of children achieving the expected level or higher in mathematics and 84% reaching this level in reading. I congratulate schools and teachers who work hard to give children the best possible start to their education.
"We know that children who reach the expected level in reading, writing and maths at seven years old have a much better chance of leaving primary school with a solid foundation in literacy and numeracy skills. We must do more to raise standards even further, especially in writing.
"While there has been real progress over the last 10 years, we need to continue to push for year-on-year improvement because it is vital that all children gain a thorough understanding of the basics. That is why we are doing much more to support early reading, writing and maths.
"From this September phonics will be central to the teaching of early reading for all children and six year olds who struggle with reading will get extra support through intensive, daily tuition. Early findings show that pilot schools involved in the Every Child A Reader programme are already seeing improvements in reading.
"We have also asked Sir Peter Williams to conduct a review of primary maths and from next week children will focus more on mental arithmetic, including learning times tables one year earlier.
"To give children the best start we will also continue to improve the quality of early education and childcare, through continuous training for nursery staff and rolling out Sure Start Children's Centres across the country."
Sir Jim Rose, author of the Rose Review which recommends phonics teaching in every primary school, said:
"There are no quick fixes that will raise standards overnight. However, all the indications are that settings and primary schools are taking serious account of the recommendations of the Reading Review and working very hard to secure excellent standards of literacy. These investments in high quality teaching will take time to make an impact on standards; nevertheless we should be optimistic because the looked for gains for children are being achieved by many schools and are within reach of the rest."
