Progress gap for primary pupils

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/8549900.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Nearly one in five primary school children in England are not making the progress expected of them in English or maths, official figures show.

But the government statistics, on how much children progress between the ages of seven and 11, do show an improvement in maths last year.

The proportion of pupils making the expected progress in maths is 81%, up from 78% last year, and 76% in 2007.

For English, progress levels are unchanged on last year at 82%.

But that is a fall on 2007, when 84% made the grade.

The data is compiled by comparing children's levels of attainment at seven and 11, using teacher assessments and the results of the national tests, taken by children in England at the age of 11.

The government expects pupils between these ages to make two levels of progress.

The aim is for children to reach at least level four by the time they leave primary school.

The overall results of the national tests for last year, which were released in December, showed only 72% of children achieved the expected level in both English and maths, down from 73% the previous year.

In December the government announced it was going to target under-performing primary schools.

A total of 1,472 schools fell below the floor target of having at least 55% of children in a school achieving the levels expected in English and maths.

Investment'

The new data shows boys out-perform girls at maths, with 82% of boys making two levels of progress compared with 80% of girls.

In English, the picture is reversed with 84% of girls making that grade, compared with 80% of boys.

Schools Minister Diana Johnson said the results showed that investment and a focus on the three Rs were paying off, adding she was particularly pleased with progress in maths.

"Tens of thousands more children than in 1997 are now leaving primary school able to read, write and add up well, and we're now also seeing the vast majority of pupils making good progress, whatever their starting point," she said.

"This is a credit to the hard work of teachers and heads up and down the country."